The Lady, or The Tiger

When a subject was accused of a crime of sufficient importance to interest the king, public notice was given that on an appointed day the fate of the accused person would be decided in the king's arena...

When all the people had assembled in the galleries, and the king, surrounded by his court, sat high up on his throne of royal state on one side of the arena, he gave a signal, a door beneath him opened, and the accused subject stepped out into the amphitheater . Directly opposite him, on the other side of the enclosed space, were two doors, exactly alike and side by side. It was the duty and the privilege of the person on trial to walk directly to these doors and open one of them. He could open either door he pleased; he was subject to no guidance or influence but that of the aforementioned impartial and incorruptible chance. If he opened the one, there came out of it a hungry tiger, the fiercest and most cruel that could be procured, which immediately sprang upon him and tore him to pieces as a punishment for his guilt...

But, if the accused person opened the other door, there came forth from it a lady, the most suitable to his years and station that his majesty could select among his fair subjects, and to this lady he was immediately married, as a reward of his innocence. It mattered not that he might already possess a wife and family, or that his affections might be engaged upon an object of his own selection; the king allowed no such subordinate arrangements to interfere with his great scheme of retribution and reward." - Frank Stockton, "The Lady, or the Tiger"

In a room, two girls wept.

Ron ran into the building. Hermione was curled up on the floor and watching the door. "Hermione!" he yelled.

Hermione looked at him and smiled. "Ron, I knew you'd find me."

Ron rushed over, shouting orders to his Aurors for them to search the rest of the house and gather what evidence they could, and pulled Hermione up into a fierce hug. "Who did this to you? Are you all right? What happened?"

Hermione began to cry softly into his robes and did not answer a single question.

Outside, reporters waited. "What happens now?" they asked.

This question, Hermione answered. "We fix things," she said with a strident smile.

We fix things.

Her reply drummed in Ron's head, a memory from another life, as he approached the Potter Manor.

FACT: Divisions based upon blood are wrong and unfounded.

FACT: The wizarding world has been divided in this manner for too long.

FACT: Such divisions led to the up rise of Voldemort and Grindelwald.

FACT: If the divisions continue, another Dark Lord will rise.

SOLUTION: We must end the divisions.

First, they instituted a Marriage Law. Some people, such as the close friends of Harry Potter, were exempted. Everyone else was forced into marriages selected to "best optimise the merger of society." No other exceptions, except for already married couples.

Some people left for Muggle society. Some people tried to mount campaigns against the government. Harry Potter asked if the people wanted another Dark Lord. Hermione Granger wrote entire books rationalising their actions. Ron Weasley orchestrated a series of silent kidnappings using a special fleet of Aurors about which only he and Hermione officially knew.

:::Overheard at the Ministry:::

RON: Have you told Harry yet?

HERMIONE: No. He worries too much already.

RON: This isn't right, Hermione.

HERMIONE: I only wrote the law, Ron. You are the one ensuring it is enforced.

RON: I won't do anymore until you tell Harry everything.

HERMIONE: Won't you?

He waited until dark. Ron wiped his hand down his robe to remove the sweat, to keep his grip from slipping.

FACT: Humans are not the only sentient beings in the wizarding world.

FACT: Non-humans are often treated poorly and this is wrong.

FACT: Punishment should be equal to the crime, and just

SOLUTION: Any person who is found hurting another (human or otherwise) will be placed in that person's position.

Susan Bones-Creevey stared in horror at the man before her. He stared up at her with blank grey eyes. "What can Draco do for Missus?" he asked. "Draco is a good elf, Draco is."

The lights in the kitchen dimmed. If the elves were going to sleep, their master and missus must be asleep as well. Ron crept closer and slipped through the hidden door Luna had promised would be there.

:::Overheard at the Ministry:::

HERMIONE: That's better than Azkaban, don't you think?

RON: Hermione! That's--

HERMIONE: What, Ron? Would you prefer that we killed him? That is your favourite method, isn't it?

RON: What you did is worse than killing.

Harry Potter smiled at the people Hermione brought in to see him. Ginny stood on his left and Hermione on his right. Neville stood in a corner, watching silently.His expression was a study in uncertainty and disgust. Ron was absent. The children from the orphanage Harry had built early after the war sang songs about the greatness of the wizarding world and the importance for unity and about how we should all follow Harry Potter. Harry's smile wavered on the last song, but Hermione squeezed his shoulder and whispered something in his ear. He grinned and applauded the children. Pictures appeared in the next day's paper.

Along the stairs were pictures of Harry and Hermione and the war orphans. Ron slowly climbed up the stairs, glancing rarely at the photographs. He focused more on not making sound.

FACT: Since the end of the war, the economy has improved and crime has fallen rapidly.

FACT: This can only be explained by Harry Potter's leadership.

FACT: Some people have been trying to usurp the Ministry and so hinder Harry Potter's plans and influence.

FACT: Such uprisings cause violence and will disrupt the delicate balance our society currently maintains.

SOLUTION: More Aurors to maintain the peace.

Susan Bones-Creevey looked out over the street from behind her curtains. An Auror stood on every corner. Dennis called her away for dinner, but she shouted back that she wasn't hungry. Dennis believed too strongly in Harry Potter and had been too enthusiastic about their marriage for Susan's tastes. Draco stood in the corner and offered to bring food up for her. Susan shook her head.

"No," she said. "This isn't right."

Down the hall, don't step on the rug, second door on the left.

HEADLINE: GRYFFINDOR WING DESTROYED IN EXPLOSION

:::Overheard at the Ministry:::

RON: Neville, what's going on?

NEVILLE: I don't know what you mean.

RON: Yes, you do.

NEVILLE: [silence] Are you going to use your special Aurors now?

RON: No. I want in on what you're doing.

NEVILLE: Right, and how exactly am I supposed to trust you?

RON: Why do you think you're free right now? I know it was you at Hogwarts.

NEVILLE: You can't possibly--

RON: You forgot to take off your security pass.

Immediately after the war, nothing happened. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley took over at the Ministry and nothing changed. Then Hermione Granger published her first book, Why Blood is Irrelevant. Debates on the matter raged on street corners, over dinner tables, and in public forums, but still nothing changed.

Then something happened. Hermione was scheduled for a book talk, but she did not show. Witnesses later placed her, and later also Luna Lovegood, in Knockturn Alley at the time. Ten days of frantic searching later, Hermione Granger emerged and Luna Lovegood disappeared. The Marriage Law was passed later that week.

HEADLINE: RONALD WEASLEY MISSING.

Ron opened the door.

:::Overheard at the Ministry:::

HARRY: Hermione, what is going on? What is this?

HERMIONE: Oh, Harry, I don't know. I just found this in Ron's office. Can you believe it?

HARRY: He-- Hermione, this is horrible. I can't believe-- I mean, I thought-- Ron is my best friend. How could he have done this?

HERMIONE: [crying] I don't know. I thought I loved him, but this? Harry...

HARRY: Hush. I don't know what happened to him, but I will find out.

FACT: Ronald Weasley acted without Harry Potter's knowledge or approval.

FACT: All kidnappings and killings were the fault of Ronald Weasley and him alone.

FACT: Harry Potter wants the best for his people.

FACT: Ronald Weasley is at large and dangerous.

SOLUTION: If you see Ronald Weasley, turn him in to the Ministry immediately.

Susan Bones-Creevey read the daily facts off the paper to Neville and Ron. Ron turned an interesting shade of purple. "So that is why she always refused to tell Harry about the Aurors and my, me," he said in a forced voice, stumbling slightly.

"This isn't Hermione," Neville said. "Look at her; her mannerisms are slightly off, her behavior is extremely off; something isn't right."

Ron shook his head. "It is Hermione. I checked a couple months after she reappeared. Something changed while she was gone; we need Luna. She's the only one who might know anything."

"Is the Missus and the Missus's friends wanting their tea now?" Draco stood in the doorway, holding a tray and wearing only a dingy tea towel. Ron gaped.

Susan smiled. "Come in, Draco. Shut the door. We're safe here." Draco looked at her and then nodded. Draco quietly shut the door behind him with his foot and withdrew his wand from a teacup. Seconds later, he was wearing clothes.

"How did you do that?" Ron asked.

"A simple space enhancement charm," Draco answered, "to increase inner space without harming the physical size or structural integrity. I'm surprised you couldn't figure that out yourself."

"Not that," Ron said, "You. How did you break the charm Hermione devised?"

"Several weeks of potions and charms," Susan answered vaguely. "I had help."

"Who?"

"What makes you think we trust you just yet, Weasel?" Draco set the tea tray down on the side table and then stretched out, cat-like, in an empty chair. "Oh, Susan, your husband is missing you." Susan cringed. Ron looked down at his hands in embarrassment; this was where their 'solutions' had led.

The moonlight slanted in through the window and crossed the bed. Harry's mouth was open and the light glistened off his saliva. Behind him, Hermione's face was dark.

:::Overheard at the Ministry:::

HERMIONE: Why can't they understand? This is for their own good.

HARRY: Not everyone is as farsighted as you, Hermione.

HERMIONE: Oh, Harry.

HARRY: I love you, Hermione.

HERMIONE: I know you do.

Her wedding band caught the light perfectly and shards of moonbeams refracted against the walls.

HEADLINE: HARRY POTTER AND HERMIONE GRANGER ENGAGED

HEADLINE: MINISTRY DESTROYED; MINISTER AND WIFE SAFE!

HEADLINE: RONALD WEASLEY SIGHTED IN SCOTLAND.

Ron drew closer.

FACT: The birthrate for the wizarding world is declining.

Susan Bones-Creevey did not read further. Dennis leered at her from across the table.

The end came quickly after that. Susan was condemned for cursing her husband, but she and Draco were already gone when the Aurors burst through the door. A homemade Portkey took them to safety. Neville left Ginny sleeping in bed and followed them. Many people vanished this way. They did not return. Ron Weasley did not go with them to the little utopia they'd built for themselves in France. He had something else he had to do first.

He touched Hermione's shoulder. She shifted and rolled over onto her back. Her face was peaceful, beautiful, and untroubled.

Ron found Luna in Scotland after nearly a year of searching. She was watering plants as he approached.

"I know you are here, Ronald, and I know what you want."

She turned to him; scars crisscrossed her face and neck. She smiled, but the expression was ghoulish on her transformed face. "Come in," she said. "We have much to explain."

Ron brushed a curl off her face and pointed his wand to her heart.

HEADLINE: RONALD WEASLEY DEAD!

Susan Bones clipped the article and pinned it up to the bulletin board in the kitchen that Susan shared with Draco, Neville, and a few other close friends. Without Ron's help, they'd never have got all the materials they'd needed for the explosions that had created a cover for their escape. He had also helped them decide where to go, since he knew better than anyone how much influence Hermione had amassed, officially and otherwise. He had made their escape possible. Draco saw her posting the article and read over it quickly. "Come," he said, and he placed one hand on her waist to steer her away. Susan stepped back and followed him out into the garden.

Ron traced a series of shapes over her heart, shapes he had practised ever since he could first hold a stick, and then pressed the wood tip directly against her body. Hermione's eyes opened, and he froze.

Luna kissed her roses gently, before going in to feed the crying child. The baby stared at her with watery blue eyes. "Hush, Ronald. It isn't your time yet, but it will be soon." She picked up the baby and rocked him in her arms. She stood at the window and looked out over the small garden where she had once played with Hermione, before they had been given the choice.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, bound to the bed next to the sleeping, innocent Harry.

"Fixing things," Ron answered simply, and he finished the spell.

In a room two girls wept and pleaded to be freed. The two doors absorbed their pleas and waited silently. One door led to a dark room, the other to a rose garden; each led to an equally distasteful and inescapable fate. There were no windows in the room, no way of knowing which door to choose. Eventually one girl stopped crying and walked decisively to a door. She screamed with pain and the other girl was left alone, curled up on the floor of a dark room, which now only had one door.