In The Arms of the Monster

Chapter Twenty Veritserum

Hermione's Point of View

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                 Dear Ginny, have a good time on your honeymoon! From Hermione and Draco I folded up the letter and sent it, over my mini freak-out from earlier in the morning. I get a note back ten minutes later and I laugh calling Draco over. "Listen to this. Dear Hermione and Draco, that is not funny at all! But thank you and see you when we get back to start planning your wedding. From, Ginny." Draco glances at me, "You did not say it was from both of us." "Yes I did." He rolls his eyes at me when we hear a knock on the door. "I'll get it," Draco says. I hear the door being opened and I walk out to look at who's there when I hear Draco shout, "Wands." I pull mine out automatically and see him pointing his at someone outside my view. "Who's there?" I ask as I step into view. "It's Weasley." Draco said. I ran up to him and he shoved me behind him, I moved beside him and he would have glared at me if he hadn't been glaring at Ron, who'd just stepped into view. "What do you want?" "I'm innocent," Ron said. "Yeah right, I wouldn't put it past you to kill your own father and your old friend. I can't believe you killed Luna." "I didn't I saw who killed her and it wasn't me, it wasn't me, it was someone else. Once you believe me I'll tell you who." "Veritserum." I said, "We can use veritserum to see if he's telling the truth." "That's illegal." Draco says. "Not if he lets us." "Fair idea," Ron says, "Go ahead, take me in and tell them your plan and then watch them ignore you both and throw me into Azkaban." "Fine let's go. Draco you stay here while I get dressed." Draco nods as I walk to get dressed. I get dressed as quickly as I can and go to let Draco get changed. He was back in seconds and we apparated to the ministry.

              "Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, and Ron Weasley." I say as the machine asks. The badges are spit out Hermione Granger War Hero, Draco Malfoy War Hero, Ron Weasley Convicted Murderer. Draco chokes on a laugh as we step out. The aurors are already standing there, "Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy are you hostages?" "No he came to us and we thought to tell if he's telling the truth or not, you could use veritserum, he agreed to it. Draco and I thought it was worth a shot, but it's up to you." "Come with us," the head auror says. I look expecting to see the head auror, instead I see someone else. Of course, I think, Harry's on his honeymoon. "Chain him up please." the auror says. Ron is ripped away from us and Draco grabs my hand. I glance at him as we start to follow the auror. We get to a chamber and they grab a vial off of a shelf. They march us to a private room, probably auror headquarters, and lock Ron to a chair. He swallows the vial of potion. "Did you murder Mr. Weasley?" the head auror asks. "No, I didn't," Ron said. "Did you murder Luna Lovegood?" "No I did not." Ron said. "Do you know who did?" "Yes." Ron says. "Who killed Arthur Weasley?" "A Slytherin named Astoria Greengrass." Draco gasped beside me. "Did she murder Luna Lovegood as well?" "I'm not sure, I got there just after Luna was murdered." "Thank you Mr. Weasley, you are free to go. Don't do very much magic, your wand is still being tracked just as a precaution." "Okay." Ron says as his eyes turn back to normal, the potion is finished working.

           "Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy, thank you for bringing him in here. You are in no way responsible for Ron Weasley." "Thank you." Draco says. "Also congratulations on your engagement." "Thank you," I say. "Ron will need to stay." They say. Draco and I walk away from them together. He pulls me down a hallway, "Astoria Greengrass, this has gotta be something about..." He breaks off. "About what?" "About something Hermione I'll tell you when we get home." He says. "Okay." I say we start walking out of the Ministry. He leans away from me slightly. I glance at him out the side of my eye. He seems shaken. We apparate home after we leave the ministry. He walks straight towards our room. I follow him. "What is going on? What happened with Astoria?" I ask him. "I should've told you this when we got together." He starts. I raise an eyebrow at him, "What'd you do?" "I got her pregnant. In her fifth year. She dropped out of school. She didn't have the baby, I made sure she didn't but it was close." "Draco." I say softly. He walks towards me but I duck under his arms, twisting as I do. I land in the burrow. I see George and Angelina standing in the room, looking at a cross Mrs. Weasley. I hide and am about to too leave when I hear, "You are in so much trouble. You are only twenty-three you are not old enough to be parents." "Mrs. Weasley." They all whirl towards me, "I'm sorry I overheard I just need to process some things and I thought maybe I could stay the night." "Sure. If you want to talk." She says. I nod, "I'll just go pack and then be back in a little bit. I'm sorry George, Angelina." They nod, Angelina looking ashen and George looking mad.

        "Draco." I call. "Hermione." He calls back, "I'm sorry." "I'm leaving," I say when I find him laying on our bed. "No please don't Hermione. I'm sorry. I didn't I should've told you. Please I need you." "I'm not leaving you. I'm just going to stay at the Weasley's," I say. "Oh, okay. I'll see you tomorrow then." He says. I nod as I start packing. "Hermione," I glance at him, "I love you." "I love you, too. I just need to be away for a little bit." I see him nod in the mirror. I turn away, "Goodbye," I apparate away, the broken look planted in my brain.