Forced to Love by Nephthys Moon

Chapter 7 - Trials and Tribulations

Ginny sat in the gallery of courtroom twelve. The Delegation was assembled at a table near the door, facing the gallery. She realised, from Harry’s account of his trial in this courtroom, that under normal circumstances, the suspect would sit where the council was currently sitting. The chained chair he’d described was missing, but there were two small tables in front of the Delegation. The chairs at these tables were facing away from the spectators.

It was ten till eight and Hermione’s trial was due to begin shortly. Ginny felt a wave of pity for Hermione, as well as many others. Poor Luna was to have an arranged marriage. Neville’s Contract had been rejected; they were both Purebloods. The arranged marriages would be settled after the Trials were complete. It had been announced that the Delegation could reject all Contracts if an effective argument was not brought forth at the Trial.

Hermione was escorted by a tall man with tousled hair. Ginny’s heart gave a leap before she could subdue it. Harry looked so like his old self that she felt she could weep. He led Hermione to her seat at the table on the left, kissed the top of her head, and joined the others in the gallery.

***

Hermione shivered slightly as she watched Viktor, Percy, and Ron enter the courtroom. The three men sat at the other table and Alastor Moody, newly appointed Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, stood.

“Mr. Percival Weasley, Mr. Ronald Weasley, and Mr. Viktor Krum, you are here today to defend your claim on Ms. Hermione Jane Granger.” Moody’s face was taut with distaste. He’d verbalised his opinions on the absurdity of slowly stripping witches of their rights in the community many times in the recent months – particularly those leading up to the trials. As Chief Warlock, however, he was bound to this duty, and the Ministry was bound, thanks to its own law, to have him perform it. He’d made sure, in previous Trials, that each witch’s voice was heard.

“Mr. Krum, you’re first,” Moody said, barely containing the dislike in his voice, and pointing to a slight dent in the stone floor. He sighed and sat. Hermione nervously bit the nail on her index finger as Viktor stood and crossed to the depression. “Now, Mr. Krum, please tell the Delegation why you think you should be the one to marry Ms. Granger.” Moody’s voice barely disguised his distaste. Hermione’s heart leapt. If Moody was against the Marriage Contracts this much, perhaps she could convince him to let Ron win.

“Herm-own-ninny and I haf been friends for many years. Ven I first came to Hogvarts, I vos a Quidditch player and a Trivizard Champion. She vos my friend. Ve vent to the Yule Ball together. I came to care very much for her. Ve wrote many long letters for many years. Ven she started to date Ron Weasley, ve vere still friends. Then, I came to Hogvarts to teach. I can profide a good life to Herm-own-ninny. I am in lof with her and have been for a fery long time. I vill make her happy.” Viktor sat. He looked pleased with himself, though Hermione could tell that not many in the gallery were impressed with his sentiments. The betrayal of the Durmstrang students during the war still stung most of the community. She was touched that Viktor still cared for her after all these years, but a love that received no encouragement and continued for that long on this level bordered on obsession.

Moody stood again. “Percy Weasley, it’s your turn.”

Percy stood and addressed the seated witches and wizards pompously. “I’ve known Miss Granger for many years. She’s spent multiple holidays at my family’s home as a friend to all the Weasleys. We both understand the importance of law, order and justice, which is why we were both prefects, Hogwarts Heads, and are now employed by the Ministry itself. Miss Granger and I are on the same path in life. It is only fitting that we travel that path together.” He bowed in Hermione’s direction before returning to his seat. She cringed. Percy was conceited at best, but this bordered on megalomaniacal.

Before Moody could speak, Ron stood.

“I withdraw my claim on Ms. Hermione Granger,” he said. He turned and left the room. All eyes watched him go. Hermione’s heart felt it would burst. Ron had deserted her.

Moody turned to Hermione. “Ms Granger, please step forward, and tell the court which of your remaining suitors you would prefer.”

Hermione frantically tried to think as she walked towards the Delegation. Percy was Ron’s brother and choosing him would create trouble with the entire Weasley family. While she didn’t much care what the rest of them thought, Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were far too important to alienate. Choking back a sob, she began to speak.

“While Mr. Weasley makes some very good points, he is, in fact, too closely related to a former boyfriend for comfort. Viktor is correct. We have been friends for many years, and if this is to be my fate, I would prefer Mr. Krum.”

A weight settled on her shoulders. She walked slowly back to her seat, refusing to meet Viktor’s eyes, where she knew a glow of triumph would sit, much like he’d get after a good match of Quidditch. Instead, she looked at Ginny, whose eyes held understanding and compassion.

“Thank you, Ms. Granger. The Delegation will now retire to decide the outcome of this Trial. Mrs. Umbridge, if you please?” he pointed to the door, where Delores Umbridge, Court Official, stood. She announced a recess and the spectators began to file out. Hermione ignored both of the men who’d Contracted her and hastened to join Ginny.

“I had to,” she said simply.

“I know. I would have done the same,” Ginny reassured her.

***

“Madam Bones, what is your opinion?” Moody asked wearily. He’d been against this ridiculous law from the start. Briefly, he wondered if perhaps the Americans, with their Congress and vetoes, didn’t have the right of it. You didn’t see such absurdities happening there.

“I’m not sure I’m the best judge,” Susan Bones answered. She was the only one of the old class at Hogwarts not affected by this law. Moody had managed to secure exceptions for members of the Wizengamot. “I’ve never liked Percy Weasley’s way of presenting himself – all puffed up like a blowfish with self-importance.” Several murmured their assent. “If I must choose, I suppose I’ll have to pick Krum – though there’s something about him I just don’t like.”

“It’s a pity,” put in Madam Dashwood, “That the youngest Weasley boy had to run out like that. Argument or no, he and Granger have been at it for years. I would have picked him over the other two.”

“What is Percy doing Contracting his brother’s girlfriend, anyway?” Remus Lupin asked. He’d finally managed to secure a position in the Department for the Control of Magical Creatures, thanks to Hermione, and was now on the Wizengamot. Moody knew that Lupin, like the others, was against the law – it was why he’d selected them for this Delegation. They were more likely to sympathise with the poor lasses the Ministry was steamrolling.

“We are agreed then?” he asked. Six heads nodded. The Delegation filed back into the courtroom.

***

Ron left the Ministry, heading straight for the Leaky Cauldron. He paid all the gold in his pocket for a room and a bottle of firewhiskey. Today there were no thoughts of becoming like Harry. Today, he just wanted to forget.

He tucked the bottle under his arm and climbed the stairs, entering the spartan room a few moments later. He slipped, fully dressed under the dingy covers and brought the open bottle to his lips.

By the time he lowered it, the bottle was nearly empty and his cheeks were moist. He downed the rest quickly and sobbed, pulling the blanket roughly over his head. The clock in Diagon Alley struck ten.

***

Ginny clutched Percy’s arm. He didn’t appear to be heartbroken about losing the Trial. He seemed almost relieved, actually. Ginny didn’t much care at the moment. She was just grateful that she wouldn’t have to walk in alone. Ron was supposed to have escorted her, but, after his dramatic exit, she didn’t blame him for skipping it. Hermione was likely to hex him for what he’d done, and Hermione’s hexes were no joke.

Viktor had won, of course. He was now seated in the gallery with Hermione, apparently trying to whisper sweet nothings in her ear, while she swatted at him as though he were an irritating fly. It was Ginny’s turn. She gave Percy a consoling kiss on the cheek before sitting down in the seat recently vacated by Hermione.

Zacharias walked in, followed closely by Harry. He waved to Hermione and Viktor and took his seat. Umbridge swelled importantly as she announced the start of the Trial. Ginny had to stifle a laugh; she looked so like the toad Harry had been wont to compare her to during her brief sojourn as Defence teacher at Hogwarts. Her laughter died instantly as Moody called Smith up to testify.

Ginny barely listened. In just a few minutes, she would be asked to make a choice, to make an argument for one of the two men at the other table. One would take pleasure in making her life a hell on earth, while the other –

“Mr. Potter, it’s your turn,” Moody’s voice cut into her thoughts. Momentarily startled, she looked up. Green eyes, full of love, caught hers for the briefest of moments before they turned to face the table.

Oh, Harry.

“Members of the Delegation, I know you are predisposed against me. I’ve done horrible things, as you’ve all read. Of course, Rita Skeeter is the most reliable reporter in the community. You can take everything she writes as strictest fact,” Harry said winningly. The Delegation chuckled and several members of the gallery laughed.

They love him, she thought. They’re eating it up. Oh, Harry, why are you doing this?

“For many years, Ginny Weasley (who hates to be called Ginevra, by the way) was my friend, my lover, and my partner in all things. She helped me defeat Voldemort. She stood by my side when others deserted me. I destroyed that one night, long ago, when I’d had too much to drink. I’ve stopped drinking, as her brother, Ron, will confirm – or he would, if he hadn’t made a fool of himself by running out of the courtroom.” More laughter followed this statement. “It was Ron who stayed at my side during the weeks it took me to regain my sense of self and the world – to rejoin the human race, as he put it.”

“Thanks to him, I am now a contributing member of this community, an Auror, and I am ready to begin a family. I’ve loved Ginny since our Hogwarts days. I only ask that you grant me the privilege of caring for her in a manner consistent to what she deserves.”

Several people applauded as Harry took his seat. Ginny stood before Moody could ask her to. She knew what she had to do. She ignored Harry’s charming smile and began to speak.

“Zacharias Smith has always been my enemy. When I read the Contract he placed on me, I came back to England for the first time in many years and marched into his office at the Ministry to hex him. His co-workers applauded me. However, I fled England to Romania to escape from Harry and the things he did. I choose neither.”

A slight murmur began in the courtroom, quickly swelling to an astonished uproar. Moody rapped on the table for silence. Ginny could feel the eyes of the entire court on her.

“I ask that the Delegation, in its wisdom, instead, decline both Contracts, and,” she faltered. The next words were so bitter she could barely spit them out. “And arrange a suitable marriage with someone else.”

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