"After Mione got expelled, I got to thinking, Da. We Weasely's have always trusted and believed in Dumbledore. But I don't think he cares about or believes in us. As Gin reminded me after Mione got expelled, he knew Harry would find out about the payments because sooner or later Harry would come of age and even if we kept it a secret until then, the goblins would've told him when he takes over his inheritance. Even I knew Harry would see it as a betrayal. I know I told Dumbledore that more than once. But he always said not to worry about it. That he'd handle it so Harry would be ok with it. But he didn't, Da. And clearly Harry isn't ok with anything we did. Nor should he be. I wouldn't be if it was me it'd happened to. So why should he be?"
"I want to say he had no way of knowing Harry'd find out now. Or how he'd react if he did. But I can't. We all knew, Dumbledore included, just how very good Harry is at finding out things everyone's trying very hard to keep from him. So we should've expected him to learn the truth and we should've been better prepared to counter him when we discovered he knew. We weren't and I just can't help but think Dumbledore probably had a good idea how he'd react. I'm not saying he knew Harry'd use old magic or anything. Just pointing out he never once said anything to warn us of what Harry might try to do once he found out," said Ron bitterly.
"So now I'm stuck with the Betrayers mark and it won't ever go away. I might get rid of the rest of the rune. But not this," He pointed to the rune between his eyes on his brow. "Harry even told me it'd be there for the rest of my life. Because I betrayed him. Not just once but several times over the years. I can't even say I didn't mean him harm because, at the time, I did. My head was so swollen, I was trying to get him removed from the picture so I could take over his role and become the Hero everyone saw him as. So, as much as these marks have ruined our futures, I can't help but say we deserve them. We earned them." His smile as he said that was subdued and slightly twisted with bitterness but at least he was making eye contact again.
"Several people have pointed out we got off lightly, Mione and me. He could've denounced us and had us arrested by the aurors. I'd have gotten Azkaban, Dad. That's not an exaggeration. It's the truth. Because I tried to kill him in our second year when Ginny was in trouble. Kids here have told us Mione would be lucky if that's what she got. I can't help thinking they're right."
"You tried to kill him? Yourself? Why? How?" Arthur asked weakly as he paled over the admission.
"Oh I didn't think I was doing any such thing at the time. But hindsight shows I was," Ron admitted. "He wanted to get my least favorite teacher once we confirmed where the entrance to the chamber was. I didn't want him to so when the sink opened the tunnel, I picked up a chunk of broken off rock and hit him in the center of his back near his neck knocking him off balance. He fell head first into the tunnel neither of us knew the first thing about. That's attempted murder Da. No matter how you slice it." Arthur gulped but nodded. Even Augusta was nodding. She too had a seat on the Wizengamot and knew it was an Azkaban worthy admission of guilt. If she was sitting on a jury panel and heard someone confess to doing that, she'd have voted for a conviction herself.
"Because we all committed fraud against him. And that's illegal. He never approved the money Dumbledore gave us, Da. Not one single knut of it. Because even though Dumbledore offered it to us, it wasn't Dumbledore's money to give. It was Harry's and all us knew that. Including Mum. Actually, he's had that on either me or Mione dead to rights for attempted murder for each of his years here, I think. Because we were the ones setting up Dumbledore's little scenarios he told us were training missions for Harry. Well, maybe not last year. We really didn't have anything to do with the danger he was facing last year."
"Mione and Gin both owe him a life debt they were denying and you know you aren't supposed to do things to endanger the person who saved your life at risk of their own. Nor does the Wizengamot look kindly on those who come before them who've done such a thing. So you see? It really could have been Azkaban for me at least. Someone told Mione they might actually have just tossed her through the veil to appease Harry if he'd taken us to court an' all."
Quietly Augusta who had listened to every word the two children said, nodded and said, "The children are right, Arthur. If Mr. Potter had brought this before the Wizengamot and I was sitting on the panel, I'd have voted for a conviction. He would have gone to Azkaban and because of her blood status, Ms. Granger would most likely have been fed to the Veil. Your daughter would be given to a house of ill-repute under a contract of bound servitude and ordered to have no contact in any form with Mr. Potter or his family. They are very lucky Mr. Potter chose to handle things himself here at the school instead."
Arthur was wide-eyed by the time his son finished speaking. He'd known things would be bad. But he hadn't expected it to be this bad. He barely heard Lady Longbottom telling him what could have happened to his children. Now he muttered just barely louder than a whisper, "Oh Dear. Oh dear." He took a calming breath and closed his eyes briefly trying to regain his composure.
Finally he opened them again, gave a nod to Lady Augusta and turned back to his children. "I knew Albus had us sign a betrothal agreement for Harry and Ginny. At least I thought the contract was for Harry and Ginny. The money was a part of that so you could play closer to his future station in life. He said you needed to look, act and dress the part of a future wife to a future Lord of the Realm so the money was to help us meet that obligation." He paused as he seemed to catch what he just said. "Oh my. He was playing us the whole time. Why didn't I see this before? Oh Ginny. I'm sorry. It was my job to protect you and I let you down. I am so sorry, Sweetheart." He reached for her and pulled her into a tight hug.