What Comes After

She felt a sense of dread when she saw his countenance. Harry was as oblivious as ever though.

"Aren't we glad to see you Kingsley?", he said while elbowing her. She still remained silent, looking at Kingsley, and tried to think of what to say, what to tell him. Eventually, her curiosity got the best of her too.

"Kings...do you know who reported me?"

She knew it wasn't, necessarily, important since the charge was brought regardless. However, not knowing what she felt that she needed to know had always bothered her.

"It was Arlene Edgecombe"

"Oh", she resigned. Her bad feeling about this was confirmed. 

"Edgecombe, Edgecombe...that name sounds really familiar Hermione...I can't remember where from though"

She looked down and half smirked-half chuckled at the dark humor of the situation.

"There was an Edgecombe in Dumbledore's Army our fifth year..."

"I don't think I remember an Edgecomb being in it, are you sure Hermione? I'd think I'd remember if.....wait..." He looked at her.

"Was she..." he trailed off.

"Yes she was."

"Oh" Yes, now you get it.

Kingsley whistled.

"Okay you two. What's going on? I know that we know each other from the war, and fought on the same side, but obviously I was not at Hogwarts and know little about the 'Army'. Thus, what is the significance of the name Edgecombe as it pertains to that organization?"

Harry noticed that Hermione was still processing the news, so he began on her behalf.

"Our fifth year was, for lack of a better term, a charlie foxtrot."

Kingsley didn't blink at his words, so he continued.

"Umbitch was trying to both take all the fun out of our lives at Hogwarts and leave us unprepared for, in her terms, a 'non-existent threat'. We couldn't and wouldn't put up with it though, so where her teachings failed us, we self-studied together. That formed study group was 'Dumbledore's Army'."

Kingsley nodded.

"Everything went smoothly for months. We used the Room of Requirement as a safe space to learn. We were able to learn both defensive and offensive curses, even Patronus charms. However, eventually all good things come to an end...."

"How so?"

"A member of the DA, a Ravenclaw who wasn't as directly impacted by the war, chose to reveal our location to Umbitch. After that the DA sessions was disbanded."

"And how does the name Edgecombe fit into this exactly?"

"The student who exposes the DA was Marietta Edgecombe." Harry shrugged.  I'm guessing that Arlene is of some relation to her."

"Her niece"

She considered this piece of information.

"It's my fault. She's trying to get back at me."

"She's trying to get back at you for her niece revealing the DA? What am I missing here?"

She couldn't look him in the eye. She looked at Harry to see if he would step up and help again, but he could only gulp nervously. I guess it's time to face the music.

"When we created the DA, we decided to open it to all houses of Hogwarts ,minus the Slytherins, since we were all impacted by the lack of teachings. However, I did not trust everyone to equally understand the seriousness of what we were doing due to all the propaganda going around. Thus, I had made a contract ensuring that no one would go unpunished if they so chose to reveal anything about our group."

"Hermione!"

She slumped her shoulders.

"I know Kings, I know. It was wrong of me, but it was the best thing I could think of at the time."

"And what, exactly, was the consequence of voiding the contract?" She knew he would not like this.

"It was something really immature. Anyone who revealed the DA would get the word 'SNEAK' spelled out on their face with incurable acne....Marietta seems to still suffer from it."

"I see."

"So...what do you think about all of this? It's really hard to get a good read on him. Do you think that I'd be able to use the point of it being retaliation to get my trial dropped?"

"Unfortunately" he sighed. "The trial is a done deal."

"But-"

"No, Harry. Let him finish."

"During each "case" there are three votes: a vote to even have a trial, a vote to determine guilt, and a vote to serve punishment. Due to the nature of the post-war reforms, the Wizengamot is trying to be better at holding all people to the same standard. In light of the actions of the Death Eaters, they take charges of 'Misuse of Magic Against Muggles' very seriously. Thus, they are automatically affirming any case where that charge is brought to their attention."

She nodded. So much for that then.

"What about the second vote, the one to determine guilt, Kingsley? The one that you mentioned considered a person's guilt. What are Hermione's chances in that one?"

"Yes please, Kings. I'd like to know your thoughts as well."

"Well" he looked sheepish and cleared his throat before re-adjusting his posture in a more direct stance.

"Okay, I like you both, so I am going to be completely honest. I don't think there is going to be a chance of you being found not-guilty."

"What!"

"Why not?"

Kingsley glanced at each of them before continuing.

"The trials use Veritaserum to question the accused. During the trials for the First Wizarding War, many known Death Eaters were somehow immune to it. Professor Snape, god rest his soul, had been working on a new and improved formula before his untimely death. Thus, even if you had managed to do the same as they did, immunizing yourself to Veritaserum, then you wouldn't be immune to the one they use. Thus, you'd be forced to tell the truth."

He crossed his arms.

"Furthermore, should you miraculously manage to be immune to the new version, they will still have to subpeona witnesses for the prosecution. Mr. Weasley, Harry, and even myself may be called up to testify against you with the same serum, and the odds of us all being immune are virtually non-existent."

"So, you're saying that she is with about 100% certainty going to be found guilty?"

"Yes Harry, that is what I am saying." That's 2 out of 3.

"The best chance we have to help Hermione is in determining her punishment prior to the third vote. While I am almost completely sure of the charge of guilt, I am equally as sure that between the reasons of age, the war, etc. we can convince the Wizengamot to reduce her sentence...", he trailed off while looking off in the distance.

"Reduce...not eliminate?" Harry asked hopefully.

"I'm sorry."

Something, about the way he said that, bothered her.

"Kings what aren't you telling me?

He took hold of her hand.

"Hermione.." he paused. "Given the current political climate, the punishment for 'Misuse of Magic against Muggles' is an automatic stay in Azkaban."

Her eyes widened.

"NO! They cannot do this." 

They turned to look at Harry, who was panicking. He was pacing the floor, running his hand through his hair, and occasionally shaking his head.

She walked over and gave him a reassuring hug.

"It's okay Harry. Everything will be okay."

Once he was calmed, she turned back to Kingsley.

"Kings can I ask you something as a friend, not as the Minister of Magic?"

"Anything"

"Is it possible to know where I 'll be put in Azkaban before I go?"

Harry interjected.

"What do you mean where you'll be put? Obviously you'll be put by yourself. It's too dangerous for you if you aren't, and you may not survive if you don't."

She side glanced at him before addressing Kingsley.

"Look I...I....I know the risks, but I'll go crazy if I am in solitary. I'd rather be able to choose my cell neighbors, if there are options, and I promise I'll choose wisely."

"For you, Hermione, I'll see what I can do. I'll need Harry to come with me right now though to do that, even if just as a distraction for whoever I am having to get that data from."

"I'm on it", Harry said, as he approached Kingsley as he stood near the door. 

"Oh....ok"

Her mind was spinning.

"Wait Kings before you go... would you be able to procure me a notebook and some pens? I have some things I need to write before the trial."

He side eyed her.

"You're not thinking of offing yourself by a million paper cuts prior to the trial are you?"

"No" Huh. I'd never considered that before. Maybe I could....no, still no 

"Definitely Not" she re-affirmed.

"Okay, then."

He opened the door and pulled his wand from a holster outside on the wall outside the room.

He waved it in an intricate pattern and the requested items appeared.

"Thanks Kings!"

"Don't mention it. Now Harry and I will be going to get the data you requested."

She nodded.

"We will be back to pick you up at 5 am. The trial is at 8 am, so that will give you some time to eat, get ready, and then look at whatever data we've gotten to determine where you want to go."

He nodded towards an area to the right of the door.

"This button right here controls the lights to the room. Normally lights go out at 9 pm automatically, so if you are up late writing then you will need to use it to keep it on."

She nods her understanding again.

"Well, that's it. Now we officially have to run to get the errand done. Rest up tonight.  The room's sentient and a cot will appear when you are tired. We will see you in the morning."

They both hugged her and headed out.

"See ya'll in the morning!" she yelled back as the cell door closed. 

Turning to the notebook and pens, she rubbed her face in exasperation.

It was going to be a long night. However, it would be worth it because she had things to write.