Bab 98: Chapter 098
"I think Flitwick saved himself his own prison sentence because he was very contrite and offered the early plea. He even provided them further evidence against him. That, plus he's also well loved by practically everyone. He has just that sort of personality."
Adopting a look of disgust, he continued, "Now comes where politics interfered with the judicial process.
"Pomona Sprout should have also been dismissed as a Head of House. She might not have been a part of what happened to young Luna; however, she did nothing to stop the bullying and other crap that was directed towards me, both during second year and the beginning of this year. She was also responsible for one of those traps during our first year. However, she's a pureblood of an Elder House; Urquhart. And, yes, blood status does play a role; no matter how much people try to deny that.
"Then there was Dumbledore. And this is where it became even flat-out obvious, even to those I consider daft morons, that politics interfered with due process. The reactions of those watching from the visitors' gallery were proof enough of that. Dumbledore, having been involved in politics for a great many years, knows where a great many secrets are buried. He also has a great many 'welded-on' supporters in the Wizengamot, who see him as the so-called 'Leader of the Light'. For them, it matters not a jot what laws the man breaks; if he did it, then he must have had a good and 'light' reason for it. And it is not for us lesser beings to question him on it.
"No," he shook his head, "I was not surprised Dumbledore didn't get sent to gaol. He was punished by the permanent loss of his positions on the ICW and as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. Plus, with what Chief Adjudicator Ogden said, I think they also wanted to fire him, by banning him, from his position as Headmaster of Hogwarts. They couldn't do that because, apparently, the man has permanent tenure there."
Wendell said, "And is proof the concept of keeping the judicial and legislative branches of government separate is a very good one."
Harry could only nod back. "Yes, Ss... errr, Wendell."
"Damn!" muttered Monica. "You really went to town, didn't you?"
"Yes... Monica," he replied. "It is because of that great culling of staff that Hogwarts cannot currently operate as a school. It has led the School Board to allow students to go home for the duration; that is, until they can hire new staff to fill all the vacancies. That's how Hermione was able to come home."
Dessert was soon served by the simple expedient of Dobby banishing the used cutlery and crockery and replacing it with a serving to each of a section of egg custard in pie pastry. The custard was firm enough to stand without oozing away. Two serving tureens were placed in the centre of the table with whipped unsweetened cream and scooped vanilla icecream balls.
This time the two Granger adults weren't so surprised.
With his own serving of egg custard pie and a scoop of icecream, after a large spoonful of it was tasted Wendell finally flat-out asked, "Harry, are you and our daughter a couple?"
With his own full spoon already half-way to his mouth, Harry froze for a moment, before he returned it to his plate. "Errr... No, Sir... I mean, no Wendell. Hermione and I are just the best of friends."
"Just?" asked Hermione.
Harry was thankful he saw the small smile curling up the ends of her lips.
"Well... not 'just', I suppose," he replied. "I currently think of Hermione as... well... my sister doesn't quite fit the mold either, I guess. But... it's more than that."
Confused, but clearly thinking about it as he looked off into the distance he was a long moment before he replied, "For quite some time now I can't see my life without her a part of it. She's more 'family' to me than my own relatives. She was the only one there for me when my name came out of the Goblet of Fire; and I'm including the staff in that. Plus, she was there for me over that whole Heir of Slytherin nonsense in second year.
"She's... like... she sees me... not the 'Boy-Who-Lived'...not Lord Potter... not the son of James and Lily Potter... me. She tells me off when she thinks I'm going to or have done something wrong and congratulates me when I've done something right. She knows my flaws, but it doesn't turn her away from me. She accepts me for who I am; and not what other people think I am."
What Harry didn't see as he talked, because he was still somewhat staring off into the distance, was the reactions on the faces of the three Grangers. Hermione was staring at him in shocked awe while she slowly blushed almost scarlet. But the two Granger parents were staring at each other, only allowing their gazes to occasionally glance at the two teens, while listening with various expressions flittering across their faces. Monica was smirking at her husband while Wendell's went from almost horrified to pained acceptance. Which had Monica's smirk turn into a grin.
Turning to look at the girl sitting beside him he looked her right in the eye and said, "Meeting you was the best thing that's ever happened to me, Hermione. I'm sure I would have died before―"
That was as far as he got before Hermione dived at him to hug him hard enough it knocked them both off his chair and over to land on the floor beside Wendell's own.
"Oof!" he exclaimed.
Wendell merely glanced down to his side before bringing both elbows up onto the table to cradle his head in his hands. Then he just sighed.
The two aurors just glanced at one another and grinned.
Monica leaned over to look down the side of the table to the floor for a long moment before she sat back up straight, openly grinned at her husband again and continued to eat the delicious dessert Harry had prepared, ignoring everything else for a while.
Harry laid on his back for a few moments, wondering why the girl chose that moment to practically attack him. He knew he'd been giving her a bit of a hard time over the past week and a half, just to get through to her he wasn't the 'old' Harry she thought he was, so couldn't figure out why she waited until now.
Hermione laid with her head on his chest, her arms around his neck, her chest on his tummy and the rest of her body draped over the on-its-side dining room chair. Then sniffled.
"H-Hermione?" asked a confused Harry. "Why'd you attack me?"
"I'm not attacking you, you clot!" she replied. "I'm hugging you."
"Oh," he quietly said.
"Hermione, dear," said her mother. "I think you should let Harry up so he can finish this wonderful dessert he's made for us."
"In a minute!" she sobbed back.
Monica gave herself a firm nod and quickly set to finishing her plate. She knew she needed to.
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