Chapter 27 - The Wizengamot
Chapter 27 of 29
star_girlLife does not always turn out the way we want it to. Ten years after the Battle of Hogwarts, Severus Snape, thought by everyone to be dead, is living out his days in solitude on the edge of the wizarding world. Ginny Potter, meanwhile, is juggling a high-profile career, three small children, a Kneazle and a workaholic husband. A family crisis within the Potter household unwittingly brings Snape out of hiding and his and Ginny's lives are changed forever, with both of them ultimately offered a second chance for happiness. This story is mostly canon compliant but discounts the epilogue in Deathly Hallows.
ReviewedChapter 27: The Wizengamot
Harry had been to the Wizengamot many times in his life. From his hearing whilst he was at Hogwarts, through Dumbledore's memories of the Crouch trial, and more recently, countless occasions as an Auror presenting evidence against the accused; it was fair to say he knew the place like the back of his wand. As a result of the routine of his job, the intimidation of entering the sombre-looking, stone walled courtrooms had long gone. Today, however, he was not visiting the Wizengamot for work. He was here for his divorce, this time sitting on the other side of the balcony.
Divorce hearings were never conducted by the full Wizengamot, and Harry was grateful for that. He had no doubt that the topic of the end of his marriage would be the hottest piece of gossip on everyone's lips outside the court, but at least inside there was a modicum of discretion. He watched as the Chief Warlock, Court Scribe, and a few members of the Wizard Council took their places on the raised platform, each of them wearing the traditional plum-coloured robes with an elaborate silver "W" embroidered on the left-hand side. His stomach clenched with nausea as he sat stiffly in his best suit and waited for the proceedings to begin.
The Chief Warlock opened by stating the purpose of the hearing and introducing himself and the members of the Council, but he might as well have been talking in Gobbledegook for all the attention Harry was paying. For Harry's eyes were locked on the heavy wooden door, waiting for Ginny and Snape to be called through to the courtroom.
‛Mr Potter?'
Harry blinked and glanced up, suddenly realising the Warlock had asked him something. The Warlock was looking down at him, smiling kindly.
‛Mr Potter, I just need you to confirm for me the grounds for the divorce proceedings today. Our records say repeated adultery, is that correct?'
Harry cleared his throat, which had suddenly gone very dry, and was overwhelmed by a surreal feeling. He was on first-name terms with the Chief Warlock and they would regularly chat in the lift about this and that. To be sat in front of him now, as a criminal, felt like a nightmare. He could see the pity in the old man's eyes, and he supposed the hearing was equally as awkward for the Warlock as it was for him.
But the look of pity was something that Harry had got used to over the last month as he'd broken the news of his divorce. Telling Ron and Hermione was just awful. He and Ginny had told them together, to show that they were both in agreement about the decision. Ironically, it seemed like they were more upset about the news than himself and Ginny were. Telling the rest of the Weasleys was harrowing too, and Molly had shed many tears. Molly and Arthur had said Harry was still a part of their family, no matter what, and Harry had then shed tears of his own.
Strangely, telling the boys had not been as upsetting as he'd imagined it would be. James said he'd wanted to stay with his dad, of course, whereas Al quietly took it in, proving that he had wisdom beyond his years by saying he needed time to think about it.
‛Yes, Your Honour,' Harry replied, his voice echoing around the curved brickwork.
There was no tutting or sharp intakes of breath at the admission, much to Harry's relief. The incessant scratching from the Scribe's quill was the only sound that filled the otherwise-silent courtroom.
The Warlock continued, ‛And I understand you have declined the presence of your solicitor at this hearing?'
‛That's right, Your Honour.' Harry knew that a solicitor was a mere formality when it came to the hearing, as nearly all of the questioning was done by the Chief Warlock or the Council members. A solicitor had been needed to provide the summons and officially notify the Wizengamot of the divorce proceedings, but as far as Harry was concerned they were about as much use as a chocolate teapot when it came to the hearing itself, and he wasn't about to waste his hard-earned Galleons lining wealthy solicitor's pockets. Just the summons itself could have bought him a new broom.
The Warlock bowed slightly. ‛Very well. In accordance with the Decree of Magical Matrimony, Clause B, the law states that in cases of adultery, both parties involved in the act of unfaithfulness must present themselves to the Wizengamot before a decision on the annulment is reached. Mr Potter, could you please name for me the parties involved in the adultery?'
Harry's stomach swooped with dread as he replied, ‛Ginevra Molly Potter, my wife of nine years, and Alfric O. Nobel, PHD.'
The Warlock called for the named persons to enter the courtroom, and there was a thud and screech as the old wooden doors opened. Every pair of eyes watched them enter, but none with more scrutiny than Harry himself.
He noticed Ginny first. She was wearing a smart but plain set of navy robes. Her hair was pinned up and she looked pale and tense. Beside her was a tall, muscular blond man, dressed in muted dark colours. The man was scowling, and he had his hands behind his back. Harry was amazed to see Alfric in the flesh. He could not have been more opposite to Snape. Whereas Snape was lean and pale from years of hiding away in the dungeons, Alfric was heavily-set and had the kind of athletic tan which spoke of hardy and frequent outdoor activity. And Alfric was almost Scandinavian in his fairness, which was a direct contrast to Snape's black hair and eyes. With a twist of jealousy rising in his chest, Harry could see why Ginny had cheated with such an alpha male.
‛Ginevra Molly Potter, née Weasley?' the Warlock asked, and Ginny muttered her assent.
‛You are summoned here today by Harry James Potter to dissolve your marriage, on the grounds of repeated adultery. How do you plead?'
‛Guilty, Your Honour,' Ginny answered quietly.
‛And do you testify that the man standing next to you is the partner in your unfaithfulness?'
‛Yes, Your Honour.'
The Warlock turned his gaze to the blond wizard. ‛Alfric O. Nobel, PHD?'
‛Yes, Your Honour.'
Harry was not expecting the accent that came out of Alfric's mouth. It sounded like a peculiar mixture of Received Pronounciation with flattened "r" sounds. It wasn't quite nasal enough to be Australian, nor inflected enough to be South African. He struggled to place the accent to anywhere in the United Kingdom.
‛You have been named as the partner in adultery with Ginevra Molly Potter, née Weasley. How do you plead?'
‛Guilty, Your Honour,' the figure known as Alfric replied, staring stoically ahead.
The Warlock looked at Alfric thoughtfully, and he seemed to be weighing something up in his mind. Eventually, he spoke again.
‛You're a gifted potioneer, Mr. Nobel,' he began, scanning a length of parchment before him. ‛Says here you've revolutionised Wolfsbane, not to mention curing the youngest of the Potter's sons during the Augurey Flu outbreak.'
Alfric nodded stiffly, clearly uncomfortable at this acknowledgement.
‛And it was after curing said son that the two of you became... close?'
A muscle in Alfric's jaw twitched, and again he nodded.
‛I see.' There was a few beats of silence, and then the Warlock continued, ‛You did not attend Hogwarts, did you, Mr Nobel?'
Harry unconsciously held his breath at this shock line of questioning. He watched as Ginny bit her lip and gazed at the floor. Lying in front of the Wizengamot had serious implications and could even result in a spell in Azkaban if the falsehoods were discovered. Harry was not a religious man, but he found himself praying to whatever deity he could think of for Snape's lie not to be uncovered.
‛I did not, Your Honour,' Alfric concurred. ‛I grew up in Massachusetts in the United States of America, and I was home-schooled.'
The Warlock raised his eyebrows. ‛Massachusetts? Which part?'
‛Salem, Your Honour,' Alfric replied coolly.
America? Harry looked on, puzzled. Alfric's accent certainly did not sound American to him. Harry watched as Ginny swallowed nervously, her eyes still rooted to the floor, whilst Alfric gazed ahead, his expression neutral. His voice did not waver and his lies sounded utterly convincing. But then, Harry mused, Snape was a highly skilled Occlumens and must have been an extraordinary liar to have hoodwinked Voldemort for so long. If anyone could get away with lying to the Wizengamot, it was surely him. Harry cold not help but feel a grudging admiration for his former teacher in spite of himself.
After a few moments, which to Harry seemed like hours, the Warlock spoke once more.
‛Ah, yes. They always have been mistrustful of the government and government-approved schooling in that particular area. Not that I blame them, after that awful witch trial business.' The Warlock looked almost respectfully down at Alfric now. ‛I can't help but notice a touch of the Boston Brahmin about your accent, Mr. Nobel.'
Alfric merely inclined his head in a respectful but non-denial kind of way.
The Warlock nodded sagely before turning his attentions back to Ginny.
‛It is usually the children who suffer from the break-up of a traditional family unit. I understand you have three children under the age of seven, Mrs Potter?'
Ginny meekly acknowledged the Warlock's question.
‛A very young age to have such a large family. I can see how that may have increased strain on the marriage.' He stroked his chin thoughtfully before continuing.
‛Would you say, Mrs Potter, that your marriage began to break down before or after your affair with Mr Nobel?'
Ginny's hands were poker-straight by her sides, her fists clenched. Harry was sure she was digging her nails into her palms.
‛Our marriage had been in decline for a long time before my son got ill,' she replied, her voice wobbling slightly as she tried to keep control. ‛I never set out to hurt my husband, and I never set out to have an affair. I take no pride in being unfaithful. But our marriage was over before I'd met Mr Nobel. The affair was the catalyst for us to get divorced.'
The Warlock turned his eyes to Harry. ‛Is that true, Mr Potter? Are you able to pinpoint just when your marriage broke down?'
Harry took a deep breath. Ginny was right; they had been floundering for ages before Al had got sick. And if he had to choose a moment when their marriage had irrevocably fallen apart, he'd have to choose their sleepless night in St. Mungo's, waiting for news on Al's illness.
‛Our son's illness was the peak of the breakdown,' Harry admitted. ‛But even then I'd hoped we'd be able to get through it. Once I'd found out my wife was having an affair, I knew it was all over. And I couldn't have forgiven her, even if I'd wanted to.'
Ginny glanced down at the floor at this, and it looked like she was about to cry. Alfric remained staring resolutely ahead, and the Warlock's eyes were once again filled with pity.
‛Divorce is always a sad business, for both parties involved, and none is more sad than the breakdown of a magical marriage, particularly of two individuals who are highly-regarded in society.' The Warlock looked from Ginny to Harry. ‛Our laws are there because the ending of a marriage is not taken lightly. But it is not for me to prolong the agony and draw out the pain in this proceeding. It is clear to me that the marriage has broken down beyond all reasonable reparation and that each party wishes a divorce to be granted.
‛And so, by the admittance herewith to the breach of the rules of the sanctity of marriage as outlined in Clause B of the Decree of Magical Matrimony, otherwise known as adultery, the Wizengamot hereby rules that the marriage of Harry James Potter and Ginevra Molly Potter née Weasley is henceforth annulled. Custody of the children is to be decided by the parents outside of this courtroom.'
The bang of the Warlock's gavel rang in Harry's ears as a feeling of relief mixed with sorrow welled up inside him. He'd got the justice he'd been searching for, but there was no happy ending to this tale. He chanced a look at Alfric, who was slowly making his way out of the dock, but the fair wizard did not look in his direction. Ginny, meanwhile, looked relieved yet exhausted. And as the old wooden doors screeched open once more, Harry contemplated what the future would hold, now he would be leaving the court finally as a single man.
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Latest 25 Reviews for A Second Chance For Happiness
167 Reviews | 8.14/10 Average
I LOVED this pairing, dear! The adultery thing did bother me a bit initially, tbh, but the realistic and aesthetic portrayal of things was a great help! Thanks for the roller-coaster ride which ended on a happy note for everyone, especially Severus! I solemnly swear to be a loyal (if somewhat inconsistent) reader of your fics!
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
THANK YOU so much for taking the time to both read and review. I know the adultery theme isn't to everyone's taste, but I was hoping that by showing unhappiness on both sides that it lead to an understanding of WHY adultery might happen, rather than glorify it. And it had to be adultery if I wanted to remain as canon as possible. I am so glad that you enjoyed this story and stuck with it til the end, your reviews have put a big smile on my face :)
Engaging chapter. Btw... BOSTON BRAHMIN???!!!! Hehe... I am a Brahmin girl and have a cousin staying in Boston. Gotta pay more attention to her accent during her next visit to India!
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Sending much love to India :)
Response from MayavanavihariniHarini (Reviewer)
Loads of love (and greetings! Yes, it's the festive season here :) ) in return, dear!
Hey! I did NOT notice the rearrangement of letters back then, though the choice of pseudonym certainly intrigued me (I mean, Nobel and all, LOL!) *hurries back to reading*
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
I'm glad it was a surprise :)
Response from MayavanavihariniHarini (Reviewer)
You are indeed a product of your House! :P
Stack up more Polyjuice, Severus! :P
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Oh, he's going to have to make a whole barrel full! :p
I must confess that the quill is quite *pause, looks for the appropriate word* extraordinary!
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Tricksy!
*jaw hits floor hard* Polyjuice??!!
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Classic eh?
Response from MayavanavihariniHarini (Reviewer)
'Classic' would be an understatement!
Ah. He steps in. Finally!
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Finally :)
Albus. Severus. Potter. Yes, that does sound bit of an oxymoron, doesn't it? :P
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
It's not the best of names is it? :p
Response from MayavanavihariniHarini (Reviewer)
Most certainly not. The mere idea of 'Severus' beside 'Potter' sounds scary!
As a newly graduated doctor, I loved your description of the hospital scene! Very poignant, yet very realistic!
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank you, that's a huge compliment :)
Response from MayavanavihariniHarini (Reviewer)
Trust me, it's as hard for the doctor as it is for the mother. I found the Paediatrics (especially the Sick Newborn Care Unit) posting to be one of the toughest phase of my internship days... Watching so many children suffer (and even die) while you are forced to keep cool proved genuinely tough for me. So I can understand Ginny's pain, even if it is to a very tiny extent. ;(
Response from MayavanavihariniHarini (Reviewer)
Trust me, it's as hard for the doctor as it is for the mother. I found the Paediatrics (especially the Sick Newborn Care Unit) posting to be one of the toughest phases of my internship days... Watching so many children suffer (and even die) while you are forced to keep cool proved genuinely tough for me. So I can understand Ginny's pain, even if it is to a very tiny extent. ;(
'Churning out offspring'... Like mother, like daughter! Thanks for the rec... I'm thoroughly intrigued!
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Oooh you found this one! I'm so pleased you were intrigued!
Nice pseudonym! *HUGE GRIN*
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
*Bows*
Hooray for a happy ending! I think you did a nice job staying close to canon. I am a huge SS/HG shipper, but I will agree that the fandom is saturated with that pairing. It is nice to read something different every once in awhile. I don't believe you glorified adultery at all. Yes, Ginny's affair felt exciting, but I suspect that is the case in real life, or people wouldn't do it so often. It happens in the real world, why not in fic? I think you've done quite a nice job here.
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank you for your kind comments, I'm flattered that you took time out of your usual ship to read this and thrilled that you enjoyed it. Thank you.
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank you for your kind comments, I'm flattered that you took time out of your usual ship to read this and thrilled that you enjoyed it. Thank you.
I love that Harry and Ginny are amicable and even happier and more family oriented than before. I do hope that Snape is able to come out from hiding. Maybe it is nice and peaceful in his seclusion, but it will be hard on Ginny, I think, to not be able to be totally upfront about her relationship to others. I do like his solution so they can live together, yet not.
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Glad you're enjoying how this is turning out. Thanks for leaving a note.
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Glad you're enjoying how this is turning out. Thanks for leaving a note.
THank you for the happily ever after! Lovely
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank YOU, for reading and reviewing :)
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank YOU, for reading and reviewing :)
I wondered what that would be like adjusting to seeing Severus and not Alfric when they are in bed. Im glad you touched on that. Made things feel all the more realistic.
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank you, I'm glad it seemed plausible for you.
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank you, I'm glad it seemed plausible for you.
ACK I cannot beleive the personal questions the warlock asked! So prying. What would have happened if he would not have agreed to terminate the marriage? Goodness. I was on pins and needles the whole time!!
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Yes, divorce is not made easy for either party! I think all three of them were relieved to get it over with.
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Yes, divorce is not made easy for either party! I think all three of them were relieved to get it over with.
I almost dont want to read about the divorce. They have just admitted their love and now its going to get ugly and torrid in court. Nooooooo
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Sadly, it's the price they have to pay :(
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Sadly, it's the price they have to pay :(
Very good chapter. I hope this wasn't the end. I'm glad the divorce is done. I have liked this story a lot though in JKR's version I think Harry and Ginny would never end up here. She loved him since he was a child and family was always a deeo desire for him. But never the less i really love your take on this story. Iv'e only read one other SS/GW story and they have both been excellent. I look forward to more.
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank you for continuing to read. No, this is not the end, although there aren't many chapters left. I hope you'll enjoy how the story concludes. Thank you for your support even though this isn't your usual ship and the plot isn't quite what you'd expect - it means a lot to know you are still reading and enjoying it even though it's not to your usual taste.
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank you for continuing to read. No, this is not the end, although there aren't many chapters left. I hope you'll enjoy how the story concludes. Thank you for your support even though this isn't your usual ship and the plot isn't quite what you'd expect - it means a lot to know you are still reading and enjoying it even though it's not to your usual taste.
A very compelling drama! I am looking forward to how it all unfolds!
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank you very much!
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank you very much!
I am so relieved that things went okay, but it was so sad. I mean, there was no way I wanted Harry and Ginny to stay together, but it just finally felt so real, all of them there in one place, admitting that things would never work out. I think Harry is being very mature about all of this, and I hope that the title of the story goes for him as well. I was hoping for an interaction between he and Snape, only because I wonder if they would be civil or have a shouting match or what. Thanks for a new chapter so quickly. I hope there aren't too many bumps in the road as everyone puts their lives back together.
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank you! All I can say for now is trust me; I've already written the epilogue so I know how things turn out. I just need to get from here to there (and hopefully it won't take too long!) Thanks again for your support.
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thank you! All I can say for now is trust me; I've already written the epilogue so I know how things turn out. I just need to get from here to there (and hopefully it won't take too long!) Thanks again for your support.
Oh, there is so much anger and resentment at the moment, and rightfully so, but at least Harry had the decency to let Snape off the hook.I will be quite interested to see how she breaks the news to him, and how he takes it. Hey, at least it gives them a reason to talk again.This makes me wonder, what happens if the second person in the affair doesn't show up in court? Or is there some way of making them appear? Doesn't matter, really, just wondering if he didn't have the option to just not show up. And would they then not be able to divorce?
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Oh yes, the next chapter is a humdinger! well, they woudn't be able to divorce if both parties didn't show up. It's a wizarding formality designed to prevent promiscuity ;)
Did that mean that she, Ginny Potter, was actually in love with and pining for Severus Snape? Yes yes YES it does! Dump Harry, grab the kids and move in. YIppeeeee!
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Again, thank you for your support! *hugs*
I do hope that after Ginny calms down and has a chance to think on what he said she will give him another chance. ((sniffle))
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
All will be revealed, my dear :)
Lovely, poignant insight into the human condition as always and as always leaving us poor readers longing for more - update asap! Pretty please? They are all in such pain, blame, guilt and conflict - love it! Of course, I'm partial to Sev, how much more can he take? We know how *extreme* he can get sometimes... please hope he gets some relief... for better or worse, it seems Ginny holds that power...again, can't wait for the next chapter!
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thanks for all your support nag, it means a lot :)
Ginny has some serious thinking to do. Well, more than she already has, anyway. Snape, while he is miserable, at least has no doubt in his mind what he wants. If she could see how much he is suffering, I wonder if it would make her decision easier or harder? I do hope she chooses to give him another chance. But what a thing to wrap her head around: being in love with Severus Snape.
Response from star_girl (Author of A Second Chance For Happiness)
Thanks for continuing to read. I hope you'll like where this goes.