Verdict

While Snape was gone, checking the green substance against the poison from the cave, Ron was watched by everyone in the room.

Lavender asked the Aurors if she could touch him. Permission was given as long as she did not try to free him.

Arthur, Molly, and the other Weasleys came to sit around Ron and talk to him. Bill, especially, tried to explain to Ron why he was being held. Ron seemed horrified by what Bill was telling him.

Slughorn had finished the Legilimency and brought those memories to the Wizengamot. There was much debate about Ron's culpability or lack thereof. The memories of the shard personality were uncomfortable to view.

Augusta Longbottom questioned Slughorn at length about whether or not Ron had any memories of his misdeeds.

"Augusta, the boy has only scattered memories that he attributes to nightmares. His mind flinched away from the memories when I was looking at them. I think he had absolutely no control over his own actions. If Severus finds that the shard had some of that potion dried on it, there is a very good chance that Ron Weasley was poisoned and possessed by the shard. The Healers may find that his health is impacted as well. I extracted the memories generated by the shard personality. They go back to before the end of the war. He does not seem to know what has happened."

"Thank you, Horace. I think we will wait for Severus to return and see what he has found out."

Viktor had listened carefully to what Slughorn had said, and watched what was going on in the other room. He could also feel what Augusta Longbottom wanted to do to Ron Weasley. Very quietly, he gestured for her to take her chair again at the back of the room. He sat facing her.

"Madam Longbottom, if Snape is correct and there vas poison on the shard, then he should not be sent through the Weil. Nor should he be sent to Azkaban. If you vill allow me, I think he should have to view my Nin's memories and then be banished to somevhere isolated vith his vife."

"Ambassador, I think viewing those memories would be reasonable. Banishment would also be fitting. Shall we wait to see what Severus has to say?"

"As you vish, Madam Longbottom." Viktor continued to watch Ron and the interplay with his family.

Severus came back into the room a few minutes later, looking concerned. "Augusta, the poison does match. It will definitely shorten Weasley's life; how much I do not know. If he had ingested it, he would have been dead within hours. However, this way, absorbed through the skin, I just do not know. It will kill him eventually."

"Severus, ask Arthur and Molly to come in here, and Kingsley."

With a quick look at Viktor, Severus went to call in the others. When Arthur, Molly, and Kingsley had entered, Augusta instructed Severus to tell them what he had just told her. After explaining about the poison on the shard, he continued, "However, he appears to have been taking a potion of eyebright, angelica, foxglove, and valerian. That may be what kept the shard from taking him over any earlier. It is a delicate potion to brew and could have serious consequences if brewed incorrectly. He has not had any in the last few months. I will see if Horace has any idea where he was getting the potion. I'm sorry to be the bearer of such news, Arthur. But at least we know it was not just the shard that turned him to violence."

Severus quickly conferred with Horace Slughorn and was astounded to find out the person who had been making the potion was Neville Longbottom. When Severus thought about it, he realised that it made sense. Neville would know the properties of each herb and the way they would interact. The combination would serve to act as a stimulant against the poison and keep Ron on a reasonably even keel.

Viktor decided it was time to act. He asked Augusta Longbottom if she agreed that Ron should be shown Hermione's memories of the abuse. Severus, Horace, and Augusta all agreed that was probably fitting. Kingsley said he would agree with anything the Wizengamot decided about Ron. Augusta conferred with the members of the Wizengamot, who all agreed that the memories must be viewed, and then Ron would be banished to the Orkneys.

Harry and Viktor walked back into the other room carrying the Pensieve with Hermione's memories.

Ron struggled when he saw Viktor. He looked at Lavender, who shook her head. "You'll have to see them, Ron love. You cannot deny doing those things. I'm here. I'll hold your hand; you aren't alone."

"But he hates me, Lav. Harry! Don't let him near me. Lav, help me!" Ron was extremely agitated.

Harry looked at Viktor's face and saw how hard the older wizard was trying to shut out Ron's emotions. Thinking quickly, Harry wandlessly erected a partial shield around Ron.

Viktor immediately relaxed and sent Harry a look that said thank you.

Viktor stepped back and let Harry place the Pensieve in front of Ron.

Snape entered the room and stood by Viktor. He whispered just loud enough for Viktor to hear. "I filtered them, took out the repetitive things, and made sure the one about the Snitch was the last thing he will watch."

"Thank you. Vill you come to Grimmauld Place again, tonight? I know Nin vants to talk to you, as do I."

"Yes, of course. Now we should be watching his reactions."

Ron had lowered his face into the Pensieve and was watching the memories floating there. When he raised his head, his face wore a look of horrified revulsion.

"No, I couldn't have... I didn't... Oh, Merlin, Lav, what did I do?" Tears ran down Ron Weasley's face as he struggled with the things the Pensieve had showed him.

Ron looked directly at Viktor and felt the Bulgarian invade his mind.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Ron tried to say to the presence in his head.

You owe her. You owe us. You vill nefer be free of that debt, Veasley. Viktor's thought seared into Ron's brain.

Viktor abruptly turned and walked out of the room. Alastor followed him. He pulled a flask out of his pocket and handed it to Viktor.

"It's your brand of vodka. Drink it. You need it," he growled.

Viktor took the flask and drained it. "Da. Thank you, Alastor. It is ofer, now. I think she vill banish him. The memories vere appropriate punishment. He vill haff to liff with what he did for rest of his life. I am going to get Nin and the babies." He handed the flask back to Alastor and began to walk to the lifts.

Inside the room, Ron weakly called Harry over. "I deserve to be sent through the Veil, Harry. If that's what is decided, then please, just watch over Lav for me. I should have had someone look at my arm; I know that now. I'd been feeling weird since the war was over, and Nev made me a potion that seemed to help. I hadn't taken it when Hermione came to see me. Tell her I'm sorry. I know words can't make up for the awful things I did to her, but I really didn't mean them."

Harry watched Ron squeeze Lavender's hand as he sat up straighter in the chair. Percy had arrived at some point and was standing by the door watching his youngest brother quietly.

Harry put a hand on Ron's shoulder, and then he went to talk to Percy.

"I understand why you wanted to be off this case, Perce. He is different, but the evil is gone. Severus found there was poison on the shard and that is what took him over. Viktor was here until a few minutes ago."

"I know; I saw him in the Atrium. Are Mum and Dad still here?"

"They're in the back room with the Wizengamot. I'm going to see if I can help Vik get Hermione back to the house. Let me know what happens."

"Right, Harry. Alastor was with Viktor. Tell Ginny I'll be over there when this is all over."

Just then, Augusta Longbottom walked into the room followed by the Wizengamot. "Ronald Bilius Weasley, it is the finding of this court that you be banished to the Orkney Islands for a period of thirty years. You are to be allowed visitors and your wife, Lavender, may accompany you. Furthermore, you are to have no contact with the Krum family for the remainder of your life. Do you understand?"

Ron's voice wavered, but he answered clearly. "Yes, Madam Longbottom, I do understand. Thank you."

The Aurors moved to remove Ron from the room as everyone dispersed. The Weasleys were thankful that Ron had only been banished.

Hermione's memories were eventually sealed in the vault in the Ministry where the findings of various Wizengamot trials were kept.

Molly and Arthur Weasley went home to deal with the fact that Ron was never coming home again. They sadly packed his things and brought them to Lavender at Eeylops. A small cottage on the tiny island of Muckle Skerry was to become the home of Ron and Lavender Weasley. They would be raising birds for Eeylops and doing a bit of farming.

That night after the verdict, Percy, Luna, Alastor, and Minerva all came to dinner with the Potters and the Krums.

The babies were upstairs being cared for by a host of house-elves all vying for the job of nursery elf to the Potters, eventually.

Hermione came down and the mood was almost festive. Over dinner, Luna and Percy were quiet, only listening to what the others said.

Hermione finally asked them a question: "What is this I hear about you two working closely to find the children?"

Percy blushed and looked at Luna before answering. "Harry and Gin had called in Luna to scry for Ron, and I was handling the Ministry's investigation. When Luna located the first trace of Ron, she owled me and then Harry."

Luna took up the tale where Percy had left off. "I was going to meet with Harry and Percy at the Hog's Head, but Ginny got there before they did. Alastor had taught Ginny the spell to determine bloodlines, and she did it on both of the babies. We were trying to distract Ron when Alastor showed up and Stupefied him."

Harry continued the tale. "Luna offered to take care of the babies while you were still in hospital, and Percy said he would personally look in to make sure they were cared for. I think somewhere along the way, these two found a bit more than just a co-worker. Just after you woke up, Gin was telling Luna all about Percy's likes and dislikes and warning her not to hurt him."

Ginny laughed and took over the end of the tale. "I think I'm finally going to have the last of my brothers married off to a female I like. You have no idea how vexing that has been, worrying about who Percy was going to fall in love with."

Viktor took Hermione's hand in his and said, "Ve vant to thank all of you for eferything you haff done to help us. The official naming ceremony for our children vill be in January. Vith my vife's permission, I am inwiting all of you to the ceremony. The godparents vill need to be there, of course, but ve vant Alastor and Minerva there also. Maybe there might efen be more festivities, if Percy moves a bit faster to catch his prize."

That brought a laugh to everyone. Soon, the females went upstairs to tend to the little ones, leaving the men downstairs.

Alastor had no compunction about asking Percy what had been decided about Ron. "I know they said he was to be banished to the Orkneys, but where up there? Azkaban is up that way as well."

"There is a small freehold farm on Muckle Skerry. They will be living there. Lavender is still going to be raising birds, and Ron can do a bit of farming. I think there is a boat as well. It is isolated, but the family will visit, and it will give him some time to reflect on how this has affected the rest of us. He wasn't a bad boy, just spoiled and thoughtless. I think some of the blame has to go to the twins and me. They tormented him and I pretty much ignored him, being too wrapped up in my ambitions. I really am sorry for what he did. I know Mum and Dad are devastated."

"Percy, none of this was anyone's fault. Sure, Ron should have told someone about the injury to his arm, but he never wanted to be fussed over for minor injuries. When he was playing Keeper our sixth year, he never went to the infirmary to have cuts looked at. That just wasn't his style. It was bad luck and possibly a bit of Karma that he wound up with that poisoned bit of the Horcrux in his arm. I think Hermione is going to go on with her life and put this all behind her. And so are you, Vik, aren't you?" Harry asked.

"Yes, ve are going to raise the children and stay avay from the public eye. I vant to make a toast to good friends and true loff. Here is hoping the years are kind to all of us."

When the little ones were put to bed, Ginny, Luna, Minerva, and Hermione talked quietly.

Minerva stated her thoughts. "You need to put this whole thing with Ron behind you and move on, Hermione."

Luna agreed. "Yes, I think it just as well Snape removed those memories. You don't need that coming between you and Viktor. Ron will have to live with this for the rest of his life, but you can move on and get past it."

"I know. I just want to thank all of you for helping out. Without Ginny, I'd probably be dead. I can't quite forgive Ron, even though I know the shard and the poison made him into the monster he became. He just didn't have the same sweet nature that Harry did. We grew up, but Ron just rather stayed lost in immaturity. I will always consider you, Luna, and you, Ginny, as my sisters. In addition, you, Minerva, are a dear friend and mentor. I think Viktor and I will return to Bulgaria in a few days as soon as I feel stronger. Thank you all again, for everything," Hermione said.

Ginny reminded them that the men were downstairs. "They are probably discussing this to pieces down there. We should go sort them out and let Hermione and Viktor get some rest."

The evening ended soon after and life went on.