Chapter 22
(Hermione’s POV)
Days passed slowly at the estate, each one an uneasy mixture of relief and dread. I found myself in a quiet room, still processing the events at the Ministry. Ron’s arrest had sent shockwaves through everything I’d known. The reality of his punishment, the prospect of legal consequences—it was all surreal. Yet deep down, I also felt a strange, tentative hope.
Draco and Theo were there every day, steady as ever. They’d been my anchor since that fateful meeting. Today, I sat in the sitting room, the soft glow of a magical lamp warming the space. Draco was in the corner, reading a report on the latest developments at the Ministry, while Theo fiddled with a charm on a small trinket, his usual mischief replaced by a thoughtful silence.
Finally, Draco set his parchment aside and came over. “Hermione,” he said quietly, “I’ve heard that Ron’s case is being taken very seriously. They’re opening a full investigation. Potter’s finally coming around, though it’s too late to change what’s happened.”
I nodded slowly, my thoughts a tangled mix of relief and sorrow. “I still can’t believe he—my husband—would do that to me. And that Potter… I always trusted him.”
Theo, ever the one to lighten the mood, piped up with a wry smile. “Well, Granger, it looks like the joke’s on him this time. Who knew that keeping a wife in a gilded cage would end with you in court?” He grinned, though his eyes shone with sympathy.
I managed a weak laugh. “It’s all so surreal,” I murmured, looking down at my trembling hands. “I spent so many years thinking I was the problem. Now, I see it was him all along.”
Draco’s gaze was steady and kind. “We’ve done what we can, Hermione. Ron’s lies have been exposed, and now the Ministry is holding him accountable. You deserve to be free—truly free.”
I exhaled slowly, a mix of tears and relief in my eyes. “I never imagined that facing him would be this hard, but also that it would feel like a turning point. I feel… lighter, somehow, even if the pain still lingers.”
Theo clapped me on the shoulder. “Lighten up, Granger. Not literally—we’re not turning you into a glowstick—but seriously, you’ve got us. And as for Potter, I heard he’s finally apologizing. It’s a start.”
Draco leaned in, his voice firm yet gentle. “This isn’t about revenge. It’s about reclaiming your life. We’ll help you rebuild, piece by piece. The legal process is just the beginning. Soon, you’ll be able to live without fear, without his shadow hanging over you.”
I looked between them, and in that moment, I realized that despite everything, I wasn’t alone. “Thank you,” I whispered. “I’m ready now. I want to start over. I want to face the future without him.”
Draco’s eyes softened, and Theo offered a crooked smile. “That’s what we’ve been waiting to hear.”
A knock on the door startled us. Draco opened it to reveal an Auror, whose expression was neutral but firm. “Ms. Granger, we need you to come down to the Ministry for further questioning regarding the case,” the Auror said.
I hesitated, a shudder running through me. The thought of returning to that cold, bureaucratic place made my heart pound. But Draco squeezed my hand reassuringly. “We’ll go together,” he said, his tone protective.
Theo quipped as they stepped aside, “And maybe we’ll finally let Potter know you’re not in hiding any longer.”
I managed a small smile, gathering what little courage I had left. With Draco and Theo by my side, I stepped toward the door, ready to face the next chapter of my life—one where the truth, painful as it might be, would finally set me free.
As we left the sanctuary of the estate, I couldn’t help but feel that although Ron’s world was crumbling, mine was finally beginning to rebuild. And this time, I wouldn’t be alone.