Prophecy 472

7- Calming

"They won't let her go until a formal trial," Harry said, holding up a hand to keep an exasperated Ron from interrupting. "Fortunately, I've used my pull to get that moved to tomorrow morning."

"And that's good, right?"

"Well, it's good if they let her off, she'll be out of here by tomorrow afternoon, but…"

"What is it?"

"If they find her guilty, she'll be moved to Azkaban… tomorrow."

Ron turned from Harry at that, throwing two hands into his hair and rubbing vigorously. This was a nightmare, the blood in his body was screaming at him to start throwing a fit, start yelling, start shouting hexes until somebody came to their senses and let Hermione go.

"Ron," Harry whispered, moving closer to his friend. "We just have to make sure that doesn't happen. I did some talking, and I've gotten Trottle assigned to this. He'll be presiding over tomorrow, and you know we have a good relationship with him."

Ron nodded.

"We'll all be there, ready to step in if things get… out of hand"

"Right." Ron took a long pause, as if making his mind up about something. "Harry, I won't let them take her."

"I know, Ron," Harry said with a sigh. "I won't either."

The two men nodded, both agreeing and understanding the other with no further explanation needed. Harry had no confusion over the depth of Ron's feelings for Hermione, however angry with her he may be at the moment, and Ron certainly knew Harry looked on Hermione as a real sister. No one would harm her if they were nearby.

"There's more," Harry said quietly. Ron nodded for him to go on.

"They think this might have something to do with Shraxen and Willigsbee, they think Hermione might be in cahoots with them."

"What? That's insane."

"I know, but look at the evidence. This all began just before you and I were about to start a full scale mission to track them down. And tonight, Ministry got word the two of them have been spotted in Diagon Alley. The last we heard of them they were in Wales. They're getting closer."

Ron shuddered, imagining what the two of them could do if they got anywhere near the Ministry or the auror department. Jefferson Shraxen and Damius Willigsbee were two of the most wanted death eaters from Voldemort's time. Following the war, account after account mounted concerning their involvement in countless tortures and murders, and they'd been part of more than one conspiracy to bring down both Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic on several occasions. The night they'd cornered Ron one year ago, all by himself coming home from a pub in the dark, it had been as if they were waiting for him, like they'd known just where he'd be.

"Tell us where they are," Shraxen had hissed, his foot on Ron's throat.

"Who?" Ron had croaked out.

"Your family," Willigsbee had whispered maniacally.

They'd tried without success to get information out of Ron, throwing the Cruciatus Curse at him so many times he'd lost count. Thank goodness for his auror training, or he might have succumbed. Finally, the two left him, like they'd lost interest. Before flying off, Shraxen had inspected Ron's left hand, dropped it, whispered to his partner It's not time, then disappeared. Ron didn't come to for another twenty-seven hours.

"Harry," Ron said now. "What was the nature of that mission going to be? What were we going after?"

"I can't tell you much, but the Ministry believes some of the death eaters got their hands on a particular prophecy some time ago, before the Department of Mysteries was destroyed. They think Shraxen and Willigsbee are looking for something related to that prophecy, to fulfill one of Voldemort's last, dark plans."

"Do you know what the prophecy was?"

"I know some of it," Harry said, looking at Ron with weary eyes. "Not many people do, the fewer the better. Remember, a prophecy only has as much power as you give it."

"But obviously this one's important, if the Ministry's making such a fuss over it, and if they're bringing Hermione in on charges in connection to it."

Harry nodded, looking over his shoulder to stare at Hermione, then turning his gaze back at Ron.

"The best thing to do right now is get some sleep," Harry said finally.

"I'm not leaving."

"No," Harry said, "I didn't figure you would."

Harry turned to go as Ron settled back down on the floor outside the bars. Ron watched Harry walk toward the exit, before his friend stopped and looked back at him with one curious glance. Whatever was on Harry's mind, Ron figured he could use a calming spell as well.

A/N: Thanks for reading and please vote and comment!