Destroyer

King

"They're going to try to come for us, you know–even try to arrest you, maybe." Hermione was still choosing her words carefully. Sure, Harry had struck out at Rita, but how far was he really willing to go?

Ron held up a finger for a second, turning around to his sister, who was still warning them of the potential consequences of their actions. "Ginny. Go home to Mum and ask her — if she has to pick between the Ministry and Harry Potter—who is she going to back up?"

Harry slapped his hand over his mouth, trying to muffle a choked laugh, and Hermione rolled her eyes. Molly Weasley might— might— with her determination to mother Harry—even pick him over one of her own kids. The idea that Molly would even hesitate to take Harry's side against anyone other than family? Laughable.

"You are all just—just behaving crazy!" There was the snap of disapparation as Ginny left without another word.

Ron sighed, turning back to them, looking a little awkward. "So, yeah. I don't know exactly what will happen, Harry, but unless you want to come up with a story about what happened with Rita, we need a plan."

Harry was quiet for a long minute, his eyes with a faraway look as both his friends stared at him. "I—I —" He paused, his eyes shifting to meet Hermione's, his hand reaching out for hers. "They didn't help us — you know? There was the Order and the Aurors and just so many people, but when it came down to it—it was just us. That's not to say they didn't help us at all—of course I'm not saying that. I'm just saying in the face of another power like Riddle... the ministry will fall again. There are too many cracks in the system, too many allowances for how things used to be as opposed to how things are. Unless something changes. Something big. Something that... that remakes the wizarding world."

Ron looked a little scared hearing that, but Hermione's eyes were shining. "We can do it—I know we can—I think if we ask — so many will stand behind us—you're the boy who lived after all."

"But how do we fix it? We can't just tear it down. There are too many government functions that help innocent people — even though I would like to." Harry admitted.

"It's simple. We just have to make it work like it's supposed to."

Ron scoffed at that. "Yeah, sure, get everyone to follow the rules, something that never happens."

"It could if we balanced the scales–a type of limited monarchy—unilateral power to overrule the Wizengamot when we deem it necessary and push through laws needed to create a more egalitarian wizarding world."

Harry grinned. "You want to be queen?"

"Temporarily. Until things are fixed." She paused. "With you by my side."

Harry dipped his head. "Always."

"What if they don't agree?" Ron asked.

Hermione shrugged. "Then they will be released from the Ministry and those who can follow our orders will replace them. We will control the government until such a time as we deem it capable of acting with integrity and strong enough to fight off any insane witches or wizards with delusions of grandeur."

Harry pushed a curl behind Hermione's ear. "I'll have to start shopping for a crown..." He said teasingly.

"I knew you two had something going on." Ron muttered to himself and Harry looked over to him.

"Yeah. I am sorry for lying to you, mate. It was..." Harry shrugged, unable to really explain it himself.

Hermione spoke into the silence between them. "I didn't mean to mislead you either. It's just that, when everything was happening, it was hard to sort through my feelings. I was always looking forward—to the next problem we had to solve to stay alive–you know? And when the war ended, I realized..." She looked over at Harry, moving to twine her fingers with his. "He was always beside me."