The Strongest Signal of All

Hermione knew this was a clear case of self defense. But proving it to the Ministry was another matter. The Aurors saw Pansy kneeling in front of her husband. From the looks of the situation, the Auros saw revenge. The wards had dropped with his death, so they had no trouble entering the house, and there was no way to prove they had been set. When she had admitted to stabbing her husband, they brought her to the Ministry. It was only a matter of signing paperwork before they shipped her off to Azkaban.

Hermione went out to the main entrance of the prison. Harry had arrived and had all her files. She put them in her bag, to go over later with a fine tooth comb. Now that she was Pansy’s council Harry would be able to talk to her at length about what she wanted. He was forbidden to say anything to her otherwise.

“What can I do?” He asked, getting right to the point.

“I need to know what happened when you entered the house. Did you have any trouble?” She asked taking out her notepad and quill.

“No, none at all.” He said. “The door was unlocked, there were no wards to break.”

“How were you notified of what happened?” She asked, frantically taking notes.

“A house elf. Equiis and I were here, so we took the case. She said her master was injured, and had been stabbed with a knife. We immediately followed her the house.” He said.

“What did you find when you got there?” Hermione asked.

“Pansy was kneeling on the floor, so I went to her and she collapsed. Her eyes were still open but it was like she wasn’t seeing anything. Her eyes were glazed over.”

Hermione prompted him to continue. “Who examined Brames?”

“Gaspard Equiis. The trainee I’m assigned to temporarily.” Harry said.

“Did you see him?” Harry nodded.

“Briefly. I saw him from where I was holding Pansy. I asked Equiis if he was breathing. He looked at me and said no. I set Pansy down on the floor and moved over to look at him. I could see he was dead. I went back to Pansy and asked her what happened.”

“What did she say?” Hermione asked.

“She said, ‘I stabbed him.’” He answered.

“How did she sound?” Hermione asked. Pansy hadn’t remembered anything past the Aurors arriving.

Harry took on a weird look. “It was like she was dreaming. Her mind was elsewhere. I didn’t think she was paying attention at first, but she answered the question. Her face was blank and her voice was very soft and quiet.”

“What did you do?”

“I went outside to send the signal for a body retrieval. Then I went back into the house. When I returned Gaspard had cuffed Pansy and was helping her to her feet.”

Hermione frowned. Pansy was in pain. “Did she cry out or say she was injured?”

Harry shook his head. “No, she just stared into space. Why?”

“Ron is sure she has broken ribs.” Harry leaned forward.

“We cuffed a woman with broken ribs?” He asked. Hermione nodded. “She said nothing. We brought her to the Ministry and while I filled out the paperwork, I told Gaspard to have a healer see about her eye, it was swollen shut.”

“Do you know if he actually did it?” She asked.

“I told him to, as a trainee he should have. Why?”

“She doesn’t remember seeing a healer. Although she doesn’t remember talking to you either. Or being cuffed. How long was she there before she was moved?”

“She was transferred out at three this morning. She was brought in last night about five thirty.” He said.

“Is there a way to see if a healer had checked her? It could have been while she was still dazed or maybe she fell asleep during that time?”

“Yes, she would have been watched by guards, I can check the records. The logs have every action listed down.”

“I will need copies of them.” Harry nodded.

“Has Ron seen her?” He asked.

“He’s in there with her now. He says he would do no good at the ministry.”

“He’s right. Tonks and Shacklebolt will consider it a conflict of interest seeing as how he was married to her at one point.” Hermione nodded. She put her notes away. Harry leaned forward. “How is she Hermione?”

“She’s shaken up badly, and I‘m worried about her injuries.”

“What happened?” He asked.

Hermione related her story, knowing that it was off the record. Harry rubbed his eyes. “Ginny told me she went there and she was going back tomorrow. She only thought they would fight.”

“I’ll need to talk to Ginny as well.” Harry nodded. “I’ll let her know.” A guard showed up and Neville Longbottom was escorted in.

“Great, Neville this way please.” Harry left as Neville and Hermione went back to Pansy’s cell.

After his exam, Neville gave Pansy a set of potions for healing, as well as dreamless sleep. She was fast asleep on her cot.

In a conference room Neville sat with his files on front of Hermione and Ron. “Alright, Hermione, what do you want to know first?”

“Give me the state of her injuries first.” She said, taking more notes.

“Two broken ribs, bruised hip bone, sprained right hand, bruised left hand, left cheek bone cracked, several blood vessels in left eye have burst, Left eye swollen shut, trauma and severe bruising in right eye, slight concussion.”

“Anything else?” Hermione asked. When he looked away she asked again.

“Neville, anything else?”

He looked to Ron for a brief moment then answered quickly. “She has some vaginal ripping and her cervix is bruised.” Hermione knew what had happened, but to hear the damage done was unnerving.

Ron was looking in the corner, his neck strained. She knew Ron well and knew he was fighting an internal battle to keep control.

“Neville, can you tell how her injuries were caused?” She asked.

“The black eyes were obviously punches. The swollen eye and broken blood vessels came from repeated blows to the face, the knuckle patterns are clearly visible. The cracked cheekbone could have easily come from one forceful blow. The two broken ribs were definitely from a kick, the bruise on her skin is boot shaped. The hip bruise was most likely a kick aimed at the midsection, but if she moved, it would have been off target. The head trauma is consistent with falling to the ground at any point and banging her head on the floor. The hands were another story. The bruising shows that there was a large amount of pressure on the backs of her hands, but there are no tale tell marks or cuts.” Hermione thought back to Pansy’s story and how he pinned her hands.

“And the vaginal damage?” Although Hermione already knew.

“Obviously rape. The insides of her thighs had some bruises as well.” Neville spoke with confidence. He was the best healer at St. Mungo’s and did his job well. Hermione always went to him when she needed a medical opinion.

“Thank you Neville. Will you take charge of Pansy’s care within Azkaban?” She asked.

“I’m having her transferred to St. Mungo’s.” Hermione was relieved. Healers were the only ones who had authority to move prisoners. “I want her watched constantly. Her injuries are too serious for her to remain here.” He made copies of the notes he had taken during the exam and said he would keep her updated.

Hermione looked to Ron when Neville left. “If Pansy hadn’t done it, I would kill him myself.” Ron’s quiet words sent chills up her spine.