The Duty Of A Godparent

I don't know what I'm doing here. Stood on this pedestal, being continuously shot at by lawyers. Being continually brought to tears by the glares of my best friends. I still don't know what I'm doing here.

"This court of magic in now in session. May the defendant please rise. Miss Hermione Jane Weasley, you held under bail for suspected murder of Ronald Argus Weasley and suspected attempted murder of Lily Ginerva Potter, currently held in St Mungos for Magical Maladies and unable to give statement. How do you plead, Mrs Weasley?"

My throat choked up. I wasn't Mrs Weasley. I didn't want to be Mrs Weasley.

"Not guilty."

A lawyer from the accusing table approached me, and I knew I had hardly any hope. I gazed at the accusing table, and met eyes with the parents of those I supposedly murdered. Molly Weasley, so close to me she could be my own mother, eyes closed, skin grey, much thinner than she ever used to be. This trial was putting her life to an end. Part of me wanted to scream out false guilt just so it would be finally over. But I couldn't. My eyes moved down the table, and they fell on a beautiful redhead, often the cover face of Witch Weekly. Ginny Potter was sobbing softly into her husband's shoulder. It had been a hard week for her too. But when I looked to her husband, my heart froze. He was staring back at me, eyes hollow and hateful. And it finally dawned on me. He truly thought I'd tried to kill his daughter. And I could never, ever gain back the trust he'd placed in me before, even if I was proved innocent.

"Mrs Weasley, you are aware of the sentence for denial of murder in this Magical Order? It's the difference between a lifetime in Azkaban and the kiss."

I didn't know which one I'd rather have. They both sounded delightful.

"I am aware of this factor." I said tonelessly, gazing at the ceiling with my eyes shining.

The lawyer eyed me warily.

"Mrs Weasley, do you have an alibi as to where you were the night of your husband's death?"

I didn't know what I was saying anymore.

"I do."

"You do? And pray tell, who and where is this alibi?" asked the lawyer, eyes alight with malicious surprise.

"My alibi is lying in a bed in St Mungos. She is Lily Potter, the godmother of my child, the one who saved my life and the life of my child."

The room filled with gasps as my eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, hoping they would not shed their pain.

"Silence in the court please. Continue, Mr Mortugo."

"You say Miss Potter saved you? And how is it she did this? Saved you from what, Mrs Weasley? From what?"

The lawyer's vicious tone made me look down. I looked straight past him and into the eyes of my best friends. Harry and Ginny were staring at me, mouths agape. They already knew the story. And if I told this court it would break their hearts.

I hung my head as I realised what I had to do.

"I killed Ronald Weasley. I attempted to kill Lily Potter. I'm guilty. Kill me!"

The silence was so thick in the room as the lawyers looked from my hung head to the minister. He bowed his head.

"Then, Mrs Weasley. We have no other choice but to take you away."

The chains around my wrists, my arms, my legs, all pulled away. Two dementors lifted me and began walking me away from the large hall.

"Hermione!"

I was stopped on my way out of the door by Harry and Ginny, both breathless, as the court mumbled on behind them.

"I'm sorry. I'm dead and this is the only way it can go. Harry?"

I looked into his face, alive with silver tears. He threw his arms around me.

"I love you so much Hermione. And I know you didn't do this to Lily. I would've killed him too. I know now."

He pulled away and bounded off, and Ginny remained. She gazed at me, a look of contempt on her face.

"Why did you do that? And I do not mean murder my brother. I'm not as oblivious as Harry, Hermione. I know the truth. Why did you sacrifice everything for my Lily?"

I smiled softly as I remembered something the wise thirteen year old had said to me on that night.

"The duty of a godparent."

And with that, the Dementors dragged me away.