The Road

Brightest

HERMIONE GRANGER ARRESTED FOR CONSPIRACY: WORLD IN UPROAR

Hermione Granger, war heroine and the Wizarding World's Golden Girl, was arrested early Saturday morning after turning herself into the Ministry on account of conspiracy in aiding and abetting well-known fugitive-of-the-law, Draco Malfoy. She flooed to the Ministry and presented herself without a wand to authorities. In a comment from the Auror who performed the arrest, Seamus Finnegan, he states, "I've known Hermione since I was 12 years old. When she came to me, I didn't believe it for a second. Thought she was pulling my leg. But she knew what she was saying. Wouldn't have it any other way."

The arrest comes after the news of Draco Malfoy's return to the Wizarding World, where he turned himself in to the Wizengamot on Friday. The former Deatheater has been on the run from Aurors since the end of the War. No detail yet on where he was, or where he has been.

"Jesus Christ, Hermione," Harry seethed as he read the paper with Blaise, Ginny, and Ron the following morning, "What did you do?"

"Hang on a second, Potter," Blaise interrupted.

While the details of the investigation into the pair's exact relationship have yet to be released, sources believe the Wizengamot is considering moving up Malfoy's trial date due to pressure from the press and people to free their Golden Girl.

Blaise scoffed and set the paper down. "I'll be damned," he muttered.

"What are you on about?" Ginny questioned.

"She really is the Brightest Witch of Our Age."

_______

Harry's leg twitched nervously as he sat with Ginny on the bench just outside of the Wizengamot doors. She promised to wait with him until he was called to the stand. She held his hand in her lap, her thumb softly stroking his hand.

"Your palms are sweaty, you know," Ginny tried to break the tension. He looked at her then. The same nervous, boyish eyes and crooked glasses she had come to know and love. He moved his hand away from her and wiped it on his trousers. "They get that way sometimes."

She took his hand back and kissed his cheek. "Hey," she said warmly and affirming, "This will work."

He kissed the hand that held his and whispered, "I know."

Suddenly, the door to the courtroom swung open. A guard called to him, "Mr. Potter." She felt his pulse quicken as she walked with him into the courtroom.

Inside the Wizengamot, fifty plum-color robed figures sat in the circular room. She would compare it to that of an arena. In the middle of it all, sat the familiar blond-headed man Hermione was so infatuated with, something Ginny will probably never understand. They gave him the cage, fearing him to be some sort of mass murderer. It was clear he had been beaten and tossed around, either by fellow inmates or the guards of Azkaban. Hermione was smart enough to get him out of there when she could.

Harry let go of her hand as Ginny was pulled down to her seat next to Ron, who sat in the pews as witnesses of the event. Thankfully, the press was kept at bay outside the Ministry walls, patiently waiting their verdict.

If there was ever a time to see at least one happy face in a room of people, now would be the time.

Harry sat in a chair to the right of Malfoy's cage. She rolled her eyes at how nervous he was, and how she could tell from 10 feet away.

"Mr. Potter," the Chief Warlock spoke, "Acting Defense Attorney Zabini states that you are a character witness for Mr. Malfoy, is that right?"

"Yes, your Honor."