"Yer frowning again, Dove," Scabior said. "Shouldn't yer be happy? Stewart and Bellatix are rottin' in Azkaban, Potter is safe and sound and yer about to clear yer name."

Hermione shifted her gaze from the book in front of her and onto the reclining Snatcher. "Until the trials are finished, I'm not holding my breath for anything."

"Come now, Pet." He moved his foot towards her and brushed it along her ankle. "It's almost over, Love. You and I are almost over."

Her heart skipped a beat at his words. She didn't dare look him in the eye, but fixed her gaze onto the red streak adorning his hair.

"Unless yer don't want it to be," he murmured, almost like he didn't want her to hear his words.

Confusion muffled her brain. Hermione didn't know what she wanted. Everything had moved so fast since they'd handed Bella and Stewart over to the Order two days ago. Kingsley's trial had been brought forward as the Ministry sought to gain control of the situation. As soon as it was over they would investigate Stewart and Bella and shut them away from the public's gaze. In Hermione's opinion, they wanted everything over and done with as swiftly as possible. Nobody was being given time to think, including herself.

The weight of Scabior's stare made her shift. Before they'd caught Bella and Stewart, Hermione had made up her mind that what had happened between her and the Snatcher had been a mistake which she wouldn't be repeating. After their deal was complete, he would go his way and she would go hers. But when they'd stepped into Grimmauld Place with a bedraggled Harry in tow, Hermione had felt uneasy with her welcome. Even though George had told the Order members about Bella using Polyjuice to transform herself into Hermione to kill Ginny, they still looked at her with caution. Distrust had lingered in their eyes as they'd hugged her with stiff arms. If they found out about what she'd done with Scabior, their now strained friendship would be damaged beyond repair.

"No answer, Pet?"

Hermione chewed on her lip and shook her head.

"Then as soon as the Ministry's done with me, I'll be takin' my leave."

A heavy silence met his words. She didn't know how to express the confusion she felt. Her thoughts kept switching back and forth until she didn't know which direction she needed to follow. They'd somehow mashed together to form a solid ball of confusion which gave her a headache. She was saved from her thoughts by the front door crashing open. The thud reverberated through the house like a shockwave. Quick footsteps followed the sound.

Hermione and Scabior pushed to their feet, both turning to gaze at the door in puzzlement. The Order members were attending Kingsley's trial and weren't due back for hours. Their question was answered when George entered the kitchen.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"They've charged Kingsley with abusing his power as Minister for Magic and collaborating with a convicted Death Eater." George ruffled a hand through his hair and began to pace up and down. "He's been sentenced to life in Azkaban! Dad's trying to lodge an appeal, but it doesn't look good, Granger. Everyone's gone mental."

A numb feeling swelled up from Hermione's feet. She exchanged a glance with the Snatcher, whose face had gone blank at George's news.

"Did all the Ministers agree?" she questioned.

"Yes!" George scoffed. "They're setting him up!"

Hermione eased back into her seat. "Technically, he did do those things," she murmured with a sinking feeling.

"What?! Stop being a prat, Granger."

"He freed a prisoner from Azkaban without asking the other Ministers' permission, plus he let me take Portkeys and books from the archives without telling anyone." She flapped her hand towards Scabior. "And here's the Death Eater he collaborated with."

"But it's Kingsley! They can't do that to him," George protested.

Scabior huffed out a laugh. "They can do whatever the fuck they want, Weasley. Haven't yer figured that out yet? Sounds to me like they're tryin' to shut this shit down before another uprisin' starts." He turned to stare at Hermione. "Anyone that's done dark magic better watch their back."

Fear tightened the muscles of Hermione's chest. He was right. Finding Kingsley guilty meant anyone could be found guilty. Including herself. All they'd need do was interrogate Stewart and investigate the spell she'd used on him. A spell so dark that she still felt the echo of its wrongness sliding along her skin. She wouldn't be able to refute it and if they demanded she use Veritaserum to prove there had been no other option than to use dark magic to save Harry, then they'd likely find out about her relationship with Scabior and her part in creating the tracking crystal. Being Harry Potter's best friend and ⅓ of the Golden Trio wouldn't count for anything if they discovered she'd slept with the Snatcher and used a spell that could shackle someone's magic plucked from a book that she should have never been able to get her hands on.

"You think we can break him out?"

Hermione looked at George. He was still pacing up and down and didn't appear to notice how tense the atmosphere had become. "I don't think so, George. Appealing his sentence is the best option."

"Fuck that!" He turned to face her. "We can't just sit here!"

Scabior curled his lips into a smile. "First sensible thing you've said, Weasley." He switched his attention to Hermione. "Does this 'elp you make a decision, Love?"

"What?" George plonked himself into a chair opposite Hermione. "Granger? What's he talking about?"

She didn't answer at first, still thinking through her options, asking herself whether she trusted the Ministry to take her side. Her mind shied away from thinking about what the Order members would say. Harry and George knew of her actions and her transgression with Scabior and she knew they'd support her to the end, but the rest of the Weasleys and Remus were another matter, not to mention Ron.

Ron!

Hermione gasped. She'd forgotten about what Bella had done to him. "Oh god," she muttered.

"Somethin' wrong, Dove?" Scabior bumped his knee against hers under the table.

Tears filled her eyes. "I have to tell him. I can't let him find out during the trial." She pushed to her feet and began to walk up and down the same patch of ground George had used. "I'll need to tell him before Bella does. It'll probably be best if Harry's there and maybe Bill or Charlie? Or possibly Remus. His mum? No. She'll go nuts and find a way to blame me. The fewer people who know, the better." Hermione muttered as she rubbed the tears from her cheeks.

"Care to share, Love?" Scabior asked as he regarded her from his seat.

"No." She sucked on her bottom lip, tears forgotten as she tried to think of the words she should use to tell Ron what had happened. "George? Can you bring Harry and Ron to the Burrow tonight? Don't let the others know, okay?"

"The Burrow?" George said with a puzzled frown. "Why not tell us this super secret here?"

Hermione flicked her gaze towards Scabior. "Because I can't stay here."

A sly smile formed on the Snatcher's narrow lips.

George huffed. "Why can't you stay?" He crossed his arms and glared at Scabior. "Gonna run off with your boyfriend?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "Yes."

"What?! Granger, you can't be serious."

"I can't stay, George."

"Why?"

She gave him a sad smile. "I used dark magic."

"To rescue Potter."

"I took things from the Ministry without using the proper procedure."

"With Kingsley's permission!"

"I slept with a Death Eater."

George grimaced. "Clearly a lapse of judgement."

"Fuck off, Weasley," Scabior said, sounding oddly cheerful. "Now be a good boy and agree to tell golden boy and his sidekick about the meetin' later, will yer?"

"Shut it, Scabior." George twisted to face Hermione. "We won't let anything happen to you, Granger, and, anyway, you need to be here for the trials."

"Any evidence I give will incriminate myself and add credence to the charges brought against Kingsley." She gave a sad smile. "Bring Harry and Ron tonight? Promise?"

The redhead finally nodded his head, although he didn't look happy about it.

"Thanks, George."

Hermione pushed to her feet and motioned for Scabior to do the same. "We'll see you later."

She didn't wait for a reply, worried that if she didn't leave, then she wouldn't. And she knew staying would be dangerous for her. She had no doubt that Harry would support her, and George too, but the rest of her friends were another matter. Once she told Ron about how Bella tricked him, he'd be a mess and his family's only concern would be getting revenge for him and Ginny. They wouldn't have time to worry about Hermione fending off the Ministry, especially when it looked like they weren't able to help Kingsley. Their advice to her would be to hide. And that's what she intended to do.

She didn't say a word to Scabior as they left Grimmauld Place and returned to his hut. It was all done in silence, Hermione lost in her own thoughts and Scabior lost in his. Ten minutes passed before the Snatcher spoke.

"Yer havin' second thoughts, Pet?"

Hermione jumped at the sound of his voice. "Not yet."

Scabior chuckled and moved to sit beside her. "Then what yer thinkin' about?"

"This and that."

"Ah." His hand stroked up her calf. "Yer need somethin' to yer shut yer brain down for a bit?"

"God yeah."

And Scabior did distract her. Very thoroughly.

Night time came with a growing sense of dread. Hermione had no idea what to say to Ron. There was nothing she could say to soften the blow of hearing how Bella had raped him while wearing her face. Nothing. In truth, part of her reason for leaving with Scabior was for him. She doubted he'd be able to look at her face when he knew what had happened, not without feeling guilt, shame, embarrassment and anger. Beside her, Scabior adjusted his position. They'd fallen asleep next to the Burrow. Scabior had wanted to go inside, but Hermione felt it would be disrespectful to the Weasleys. They wouldn't want the Snatcher in their home and Hermione felt less welcome than she had in the past. Maybe she'd already started the process of pulling away from them as they seemed to have done with her.

The pop of her friends apparating made her flinch.

"Wait here, please," Hermione said to Scabior.

The Snatcher noted her sombre expression and nodded.

She pushed to her feet and walked towards Harry, Ron and George.

"'Mione!" Ron rushed forward. "Are you alright?"

"I'm okay." She gestured to the Burrow. "Let's go inside, okay?"

"Sure."

Harry hadn't spoken and she knew by the cool look in his eyes that George had told him that she intended to leave with Scabior. No doubt he thought that was why she'd called them here; to confess her relationship with the Snatcher and say her goodbyes. She wished that was all she had to say.

George rushed into the Burrow first, lighting some candles and starting a fire. It gave a cheery glow that didn't match the mood.

"Umm," Ron began. "Sorry about blaming you for Ginny's death. I-"

"It's fine, Ron," Hermione interrupted, not wanting to hear his apology when they had more important things to discuss. "Sit down. I need to talk to you."

Harry sneered. "We don't need to sit down to hear you tell us that you're running off with that Snatcher."

"What?!" Ron screeched. "No. You can't!"

"The Ministry will arrest me if I stay and I'll be thrown in a cell next to Kingsley." She met each of their eyes. "Besides, that doesn't matter now. I have something more important to tell you."

A frown replaced Harry's scowl. "What?"

She felt the burn of impending tears begin to build at the back of her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Ron."

"Huh?"

"Bella used the Polyjuice to trick you into meeting her."

"What? When?"

"Before she killed Ginny." Hermione reached forward to hold his hand. "That's how she found out the location of the Order."

Ron scoffed and shook his head. "Don't be stupid. I didn't meet that crazy bint and I didn't tell her the Order's location either."

Harry and George had gone very quiet as she spoke, perhaps sensing that something worse was to come.

Hermione pulled in a shaky breath. "She showed me the memory, Ron."

"No. I don't believe it. I wouldn't tell her anything."

"You thought you were talking to me."

George stepped forward to put his hand on Ron's shoulder. "What else did you see, Granger."

"I'm sorry," she said again.

"What did you see, 'Mione?" Harry asked.

She fixed her eyes on Ron's confused gaze. "You had sex with her."

"What?!" Ron yanked his hand out of Hermione's. "Don't be ridiculous. Why are you saying that? Did that Snatcher put you up to it? Is he threatening you?"

"No. Bella stole the memory from you and kept it." She slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out the vial. "I have it here."

The blood drained from Ron's face. "No," he whispered.

"I'll kill her!" Harry ground out between clenched teeth.

"I'm killing her!" George snarled. "That bitch is gonna suffer."

Hermione didn't try to reason with them. Bella needed to die. She should have killed her when they caught her at the cottage. "Whatever you do needs to happen before she goes to trial. She's waiting to blurt it out in front of everyone there and she'll take pleasure in sharing the memory of it with everyone."

"It's your fault," Ron whispered.

Her heart sank. She knew he'd blame her.

"If you hadn't gone off with that Snatcher then this wouldn't have happened!" He lifted his hand and pointed his finger at her. He was so angry his body shook. "I wouldn't have gone if she hadn't pretended to be you!"

"Ron..." Her voice faded as words failed her.

"Get out!" he hissed. "Fuck off with your Snatcher and don't ever come back! We don't want you here!"

"That's enough, Ron," Harry said, stepping up to Hermione's side.

"It's okay, Harry. He's angry." She felt the tension thicken as Ron's temper rose. He looked seconds away from exploding. "I'll leave. Seeing my face isn't helping."

She turned away and walked out of the Burrow without another word. Ron yelled at her retreating back, held in place by George and Harry to prevent him from following her and saying or doing something he would regret at a later date. Hermione felt numb as she left her friends behind. She wasn't hurt or angry at them for staying with Ron. He needed them more than she did.

Dry grass crunched beneath her feet as she wandered aimlessly for what seemed like hours. At some point Scabior joined her, walking beside her like a shadow. She didn't need to explain to him what Bella had done to Ron, the conversation had been loud enough for him to hear. And he gave her what she needed the most.

Silence.

Perhaps that's what attracted her to him. He knew how to support her without asking what she wanted. He just knew before she even did herself. And he continued to support her in the following days and weeks. He was the one who told her that Bella had died in Azkaban before she could stand trial. He was the one who arranged for her to meet Harry and George so they could tell her how they'd poisoned Bella. He was the one who held her when she cried for Ron. He was the one who was teaching her how to live for herself.

He was the one.

And always would be.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this fic. This is my first attempt at Fanfiction and in some ways it shows. I'm not entirely happy with the pace and flow and there are a hundred things I'd do differently now that I have more writing experience. At one point I wrote myself into a corner I couldn't get out of. Enter CatherineMorgenstern. I'm not exaggerating when I say this has only been completed because of her. She spent hours brainstorming, chatting, advising and giving support to this story, as well as the time spent editing each chapter. Time that can't be bought back or regained in any way. I will forever be grateful and cannot express how appreciative I am to you, Catherine.

So one last time, I ask for your reviews. But not for me. I ask that you show your appreciation to CatherineMorgenstern who saved this fic from abandonment. Seriously, it's only finished because of her.

Thanks and take care!