Bogrod was a very sharp, very seasoned account manager. He could see that Mrs. Weasley was just cleared of something that was altering her mind as she walked through a much gentler version of the thief's downfall. Thinking that anything they had planned for todays meeting will now be pushed back by a good bit of time he placed his hand on a perfectly circular cut out section on his desk and wiped his schedule for the rest of the day. Bogrod offered his client and guest some tea and stepped out to give them some privacy to go over what had just happened. As he was walking out Hermione spoke for the first time since her expletive. "Sir, that mist that I walked thru, would it clear out potions as well?" Thinking for a bit Bogrod decided to answer truthfully. "Yes, anything that would cause a person to make any choices against their will would be nullified. You have already encountered this piece of ingenuity before Mrs. Weasley, however at that point we were all falling to the ground and I do believe your mind was more on the cushioning and de-acceleration spells at the time."
Once again blushing profusely Hermione was thinking back to the war when they thought it was an excellent idea to try breaking into Gringotts. "The thief's downfall, that giant waterfall that lifted the imperious curse on you? Sorry by the way, I know we have said it multiple times, but I truly am sorry about all the trouble we have caused, and all the lives lost." Bogrod simply nodded in acknowledgement as he exited the room, he had a pretty good idea what was cleared up in her mind if the wincing every time he called her by her married name was any indication.
"Mione, do you think you could clue in the less gifted?" Harry said with a confused look on his face.
"Remember when we broke into Bellatrix's vault? You had placed Bogrod under the imperious curse for him to believe I was her." Hermione started. Harry remembered the incident clearly but still had no idea what it had to do with her being angry. "When I walked thru the mist it was like my mind went back to its original settings, everything became clear for me in an instant." Again, Harry understood everything but still was not connecting the dots.
"Harry, I never wanted to marry Ronald so quickly, in fact I fought vehemently against it, wanting to wait till after we graduated Hogwarts and maybe started in on a career." Hermione started shaking her head. "As I was walking down the aisle at my wedding, I was asking myself all these questions, why am I marrying when I'm not 100% sure this is what I want? What changed my mind?" Frantically searching his eyes, she let slip the biggest secret she held. "I mean we argue all the time! He drives me nuts, I still have issues trusting him after he left us in that blasted tent! Don't you see… I don't even know if I love him!"
Breathing heavily after her very loud tirade Hermione started shaking, the shaking then made way for her crying, hot angry tears coursed their way down her cheeks as she stared at Harry, his mouth agape, complexion starting to pale.
"Mione, are you saying what I think you're saying?" questioned Harry.
"I don't know," Hermione gasped as she fought hard against the feelings of hatred and anger bubbling up within her.
"What I do know is that very shortly after I made several arguments about not wanting to get married, I suddenly changed my mind and threw myself into wedding planning mode with Molly." Frantically searching thru her newly organized mind she remembered Ron sitting her down and offering her some tea. A potion then? Or could it be someone else? Did Ron know what he was doing? Was it even Ron? So many questions filtered through her mind as Harry sat and stared at the ground.
Should I tell her how I feel? Does it matter? Can she even do anything now? Is it too late? Would Ron do this to her? All these questions were filtering through his mind rapidly. How should he approach this?
Harry took a deep breath, "Does this change anything Mione?" he asked quietly.
Chewing on her lip Hermione put to thought the question he asked. Does it? Do I want to be married so young? Do I want to be married to Ronald? Harry was waiting for an answer, but did she have one?
"I'm not sure. I still feel very strongly about not wanting to be married so young, but can I do anything about it? How would I prove it? More importantly how do I know who did it? It's not like Ronald is the most gifted in potions." At that exact moment Bogrod re-entered his office having caught the last statement Hermione said.
"Actually Mrs. Weasley, you do have a say in your marriage to Mr. Weasley. You see a marriage is, at the root, a contract between a witch and a wizard. Both parties are to be in the right state of mind when making any decisions as big as marriage is, generally due to in the wizarding world there is no such thing as divorce." Bogrod gave that a moment to settle in before continuing. "Ideally any marriage that is set to take place between two pure-blooded magical beings usually goes through a bonding ceremony, not uncommon that Mr. Weasley and yourself did not have one based on your heritage. During this ceremony the couple involved would normally both consume the regulated amount of a veritaserum like potion and answer a pre-determined list of questions to a non-biased third party. Most of the time that being held either here at Gringotts in the presence of an account manager or at the Ministry of Magic in front of a register clerk."
Bogrod was right both being from the muggle world neither Hermione nor Harry have ever heard of this ceremonial act. Thinking thru her options quickly Hermione asked "Sir does that mean I can request the bonding ceremony? Even after the fact that we are now already married?"
Bogrod thought about her question carefully, it was an unusual request but not unheard of. But in the truth of things there really was nothing they could do about the marriage besides have it annulled by magic. When given his answer Hermione thought it through. She had heard of the annulment ritual; however, they were rare and one hasn't been performed in several decades. Basically, the ritual searches thru the magic of the couple in question by performing a light-based ritual. The reason in most cases is due to the couple in question were accidently married be it by mistake or by other more forceful means. The ritual is then performed in a set of runes on the floor and invoked by a head of house, normally with a blood offering from each as a witch or wizards magic resides not only in their core, but in their blood. From there magic decides if the two are compatible enough to allow the marriage or if they have a higher act of fate.
The last time the ritual worked, and the marriage was annulled, was several hundred years ago. In fact, she remembered the case clearly as she had done an essay on it for a potions class to earn extra credit when Professor Slughorn taught them about love potions back at Hogwarts. A wizard by the name of Eustace Fawley married a witch by the name of Elizabeth Burke. Elizabeth loved Eustace, but he did not in fact love her, instead he was in love with her sister Belvina. Elizabeth distraught with the thought of her one true love marrying anyone but her gave Eustace a love potion. A story now that she thought about it was very similar to Tom Riddles parents but had a very different outcome.
Elizabeth, feeling comfortable in her marriage, decided to forego the nightly dosage of the potion in Eustace's tea on the night of their marriage. Eustace, coming back into the right state of mind, insisted upon the annulment ritual, still hopeful that their love would be strong enough Elizabeth entered the runes and performed the ritual only to have her marriage annulled by magic. Eustace had a higher act of fate, which overruled the marriage in question, as nothing is stronger in the magical worrld as a soul bond, one of which he had with his beloved Belvina.
Hermione coming back from her long-ago report stared directly at Harry, she knew he loved her. She could feel it in her soul, and now that her mind was once again clear, she could honestly say that she loved him. Her heart of hearts was telling her that she made a piss poor decision marrying Ronald Bloody Weasley. She also knew somewhere deep inside that he tricked her into marrying him, he saw the doubt within her, knew that if he gave her time, she would come to the same conclusion that she came to just now.
Harry saw the determination filter into Hermione's eyes followed closely by a gob smacked expression. He could tell she had an epiphany he just didn't realize how big of one it was and how much it would put so much right in his world.
Taking a deep breath and counting to ten Hermione asked Bogrod for some material on the ritual and how one with a muggle heritage would go about asking for one with no head of house. Bogrod put off what one would suppose is a smile towards Hermione before once again placing his hand on the circular cut out on his desk, requesting more tea and an assistant clerk to get the information his client requested.
Back at the Burrow Ronald Billius Weasley was just getting out of bed, his wife who had always been an early riser had left several hours ago and he was free to slack off all day. Silently congratulating himself at his first ever victory in any of their arguments. He knew she didn't love him the way he loved her, how could she? She didn't feel it necessary to have one over on Harry, hell he didn't even know why he felt the need to constantly have things better than his best friend. Merlin it wasn't like he didn't share almost everything he had… his family being the biggest piece of Ron that he shared with Harry. Not only did almost all his family consider Harry a brother/son, but most of them like him better than Ron! And to him that was just not acceptable.
No, Hermione was the one person who Harry couldn't have, wouldn't have. He got to her first, he convinced her first. So what if he cheated a little, its not like it was a love potion he used. His plan was perfect, and thanks to some quick thinking from Rodger Davies she would never find out. It was all too easy, placing the one-time dose into her nightly tea as they discussed pushing back the wedding. It was a odorless, tasteless, colorless potion that Davies created himself making the drinker behave a bit like being hit with a confundus charm mixed with a mild memory block that he could reactivate by saying a word keyed to the potion. Basically, when she started to go off the rails about having the wedding too soon or them being too young Ron would simply slip the word "sweetheart" into conversation and she would mellow out and forget what she was arguing about. But dear Godric was she persistent, he even had to use it right before they said their vows as he could not only see but feel her starting to back away.
But that is all in the past now, she is officially Mrs. Ronald Weasley, and within a weeks' time they will be out in Barcelona enjoying the sunshine and eating LOADS of pasta. He had won, and with that thought Ron decided that Hermione would probably be several hours yet, Merlin knows the amount of paperwork that she will insist upon reading every minute detail, he was positive it would take forever. With time to spare Ron got dressed and headed off to see who he could con out of a few sickles in a rousing game of chess.
Back at Gringotts, Harry was reviewing what felt like the millionth piece of parchment, going over different stocks, and bonds he held in the muggle world now that he became Lord Harry James Potter-Black, heir to Gryffindor. Damn what a mouthful. Who would have thought that he would miss being call the boy who lived? Meanwhile sitting beside him Hermione was looking over the book that Bogrod had given her of the annulment ritual, eyes scanning a page rapidly, finger twisting a piece of her chocolate brown curls, lip like usual sucked in held captive between her teeth. To Harry she was simply in her library mode and the only time she would come out of it was when he would ask her a question pertaining to his paperwork, but even then she continued to read while she answered his questions. He didn't know how she did it, concentrating on two completely different topics and remaining sane. He had no sooner thought this than she glanced up and gave him one of those heart stopping smiles, one that momentarily froze him to his seat.
"Harry, it says here that any persons who do not have a head of house, for example muggle born or half-bloods who were ejected from a family, may file themselves for the ritual if they can prove they were coerced or forced into a marriage against their will." Hermione stated this while the twisting of her curls stopped as she focused her attention towards Bogrod.
"Sir, are we able to prove that a curse or potion was lifted when I walked thru the mist? Is there a record of some kind or a monitoring system in place to show my reaction?" she asked hopefully. Bogrod tapped a clawed finger against his chin, knowing there was no such systems in place, however he was present and could account for and give testament that the young lady was in fact effected by the Thief's Downfall. Contrary to popular belief goblins do not hate all wizards and witches, they merely demand the respect they are owed. True this young welp did break in and create such chaos and havoc that it cost the bank millions to fix, however she truly repented her actions and has done more than any other witch he has known to prove her self to the goblin race. It was because of these actions that Gringotts was able to bounce back from all the bad press sent their way, she also made sure to note that Griphook died an honorable death fighting against the evil that was the Dark Lord.
"I am sorry Mrs. Weasley but there is no such monitoring in place, however helpful that might be, I shall bring it up at our next board meeting with the Elders." Bogrod saw Hermione deflate a little at his answer, catching her eye he continued; "As an account manager to one of the oldest vaults here, my word should be more than enough to get you the request for the ritual, that is if you so wish for it to happen?"
The smile that donned her face was one Harry hasn't seen since before the war, it was simply breathtaking. He couldn't help the smile that came to his face, it has been far too long since he has seen her happy, why hadn't he noticed the change in her earlier? "How long till I can get the ritual set up?" Hermione questioned Bogrod. "If possible, I would like to have it held here where there can't be any interference." Bogrod gave a nod and once more placed his hand on the circular section of his desk, a few moments later a smaller goblin entered his office and took away the paperwork to summon Ron to Gringotts later that afternoon.
Harry for the most part was done with his paperwork, he still had to set up a time to visit several of his newfound properties, including Potter Manor in Scotland and 12 Grimmauld Place in London. Both of which will be done later, although Grimauld could wait far longer, Harry had no excitement about heading back into the town-home that caused Sirius so much pain. Hand cramping as he finished the last of his signatures on his inheritance, Harry stood up and shook out his hand.
Hermione gave him a look of sympathy as he rubbed the faded old scar from that wretched woman in pink, "Does it still hurt?" she asked out of curiosity. "Not too much anymore, just when I write a lot, but I doubt that has anything to do with the blood quill and more to do with the lack of essay writing I have been doing in the last year." Smiling at her he checked the pocket watch that was given to him by the senior Weasley's, "we have a few hours yet before Ron has to make his appearance here, would you like to grab something to eat at the Leaky?" he asked just as he heard her stomach growl. Hermione just giggled as she placed her hand on her middle. "Guess that would be best huh? Wouldn't want to pass out at the sight of blood later, not very becoming from the brightest witch of our age." Which was said with the biggest eye roll Harry has ever seen.
Chuckling slightly he once more cocked his elbow for her to grab hold of as he escorted her back thru the lobby and out into Diagon Alley.