Marriage Law Madness

They Apparated to Diagon Alley, and Severus led them past Flourish and Blotts, Madam Malkin’s and Gringott’s to Madam Arden’s, marked, as in the Muggle world, by a red door. “Sev?” Molly questioned.

“The second part I’ve been planning for a few days, this first part I arranged last night. It’s an “I’m sorry” present. Have fun, see you at four.”

The door opened. “Madam Snape, Mistress McGonagall, Come in.”

“You’ll deliver her to her next destination?”

“Yes, sir, its all arranged just the way you wanted it.”

Molly and Minerva enjoyed a morning consisting of a massage, a facial and a body wrap. They were served a light lunch and ushered down the block to Madam Thestral’s. Inside were Madam Malkin, Madam Thestral and Mistress Victoria, purveyor of fine undergarments to Witches and Muggle women alike.

“Here’s the game plan, ladies. Molly, we are to outfit you from the skin out. Underwear, bras, nightgowns, robes, dress robes, potions work robes, and a few nice businessy robes for the European Potions Conference in Paris next month. There are no price tags and you are not to ask. Minerva, Severus said to go to town and he’d send Albus a bill.”

Three hours later, the women had bought up what seemed to be half of Diagon Alley. Molly had a beautiful wardrobe, and Minerva had the start of a wonderful, tartan-free trousseau. The dress robes were packed separately, but neither knew why until they were whisked back down the block to the spa. Manicures and pedicures came first, then hair and makeup. Gowned in one of their new dress robes, they stepped out into the lobby to meet Severus and Albus.

~~~

The men had spent the morning with Madam Malkin, just missing the women on their way in. Albus had robes of deep blue, while Severus, of course, chose black. Albus did, however, talk him into a few solid colored silk shirts.

They stopped by the Apothecary, and Severus bought a full apprentice’s kit, with a new cauldron, dragon hide gloves, a new set of scales and more. He also refilled a lot of his potion ingredients, he was running low as it was close to the end of term.

Then they went on to Flourish and Blotts. Severus ordered Molly’s college texts and a new potions tome, and then chose several new books for her that she could use for the magical home arts exams that he knew weren’t in her library. He was deliberating between two when Albus said, “the one on the left. I’ve bought her the other for Christmas.” He himself had picked several simple home arts books, a few each on sewing, cooking, cleaning, and parenting, for Molly to choose between as textbooks for her class. On a whim Severus grabbed a copy of both Charms Chronicle and Transfiguration Today from the racks near the checkout counter. He had little interest in them, but Molly would love them, and she needed a chance to catch up on recent developments in the fields, since home arts used charms and transfiguration as well as potions.

Both of them were low on ink, so they went to Scribbulus’. Albus ordered two beautiful green leather journals, both with embossed Celtic knots, with Molly and Minerva’s intitials on them. “I don’t know if Minerva journals, but I know Molly hasn’t had one since Hogwarts, her father would read it and then use the information against her.”

They did some more Christmas shopping, Severus ordered his lightbulbs and a few other items, and then they Apparated home to drop off their things and get ready to meet the girls, plus pick something up.

Severus took one look at Molly and his jaw hit the floor. She was wearing a sweetheart neckline emerald velvet gown that was slightly corseted, gently shaping her without being restrictive, the shape of the gown repeated in the sleeves, which tapered in at the elbow before flaring into a v at the wrists. The gown fell in a graceful circle to her feet, with a slight train in the back. Her hair had been trimmed to remove split ends, the slight touches of gray covered up, and then piled into a mass of curls on the top of her head.

Minerva was wearing the same gown in a deep burgundy, and it was amazing how much younger she looked without her severe bun and tartan robe. Albus opened a bag from the jewelry store, withdrawing a silver necklace made of a thin line of Celtic knot work, with a larger love knot as a pendant. There were earrings to match.

Molly’s jewelry had come from Snape manor – Severus’ mother’s emeralds. He had gone back to get them instead of buying her something after Madam Malkin told him which color dress Molly had chosen. Instead, he ordered her a pendant for everyday wear and a present for Mother’s Day. It was a highly complex order, and would take a few months to make.

They walked down the alley to the photographer’s, Severus resisting the urge to hex the guy who whistled at Molly as she passed. Molly and Severus went first, sitting for a formal photo, then one of each of them alone. Albus wanted one of Molly and Minerva, then she and Albus took a few photos, then separate ones as the others had done. Once they were done, they went to an exclusive wizarding restaurant for dinner and then Apparated back to the manor.

~~~

Meanwhile, Harry was having an interesting day with Lupin. He’d taken him to Gladrags for a new robe and gotten his hair trimmed, and then they headed towards the Hogsmeade Home for Distressed Witches.

Inside, women were sitting with cups of tea, enjoying their morning off. One woman saw them and turned back down the hall, stopping at a large, dormitory style room.

“Felicity, did you actually send that crazy letter to Harry Potter?”

“Yes, stupidly. Why? Has someone come to drag me off to St. Mungo’s?”

“No. HE’s here. With another man.”

“You’re joking. No, you aren’t.” Harry had just knocked on the doorframe.

“Felicity?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“This is Remus Lupin.”

The other woman left the room, and Harry closed the door. Remus looked at her. Pretty, with soft brown hair and disturbingly familiar dark brown eyes.

“Well, before we spend time getting to know one another, there’s something you need to know. I’m a werewolf. As long as Severus makes the potion…” he broke off after seeing the look on her face. “I told Harry this was a bad idea, ill go.”

“No. It isn’t you. It’s just that name. My brother was named Severus, I haven’t seen him since I was sixteen.”

Harry suddenly knew where he had seen those eyes before. “Oh, Merlin, You’re SNAPE’S sister!”

“Snape’s sister?” Lupin echoed.

“My maiden name was Snape, yes. Do you know him?”

“He’s Harry’s potions teacher and my colleague. I’m taking back over defense against the dark arts next term, as Madam Filch is expecting and wishes to stay home.”

Harry shuddered. The thought of Filch and the former Mistress Umbridge procreating made him ill.

“Do you know how long your brother has been looking for you?” Lupin asked. “He finally gave up after ten years, thinking you must be dead.” They talked for awhile until they were interrupted by a small voice.

A small dark head popped out of a bunk nearby. “Mum?”

“Now she looks like Sev.” Lupin commented.

“I know.”

The little girl walked over to her mother, looking up at Lupin. “Da?” she said hopefully.

Lupin picked her up, obviously smitten. “Yes, if your mother will have me.” It was strange, he’d known her less than an hour but felt like he’d known her forever.

“Your poor brother is going to have a heart attack with all these changes. He and Molly are quite a pair. He’s gone from a lonely bachelor to a guy with eight kids in less than three months. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if by the end of next year there are nine.”

“Eight? There are only seven.” Harry looked as if Lupin had two heads.

“You’re forgetting yourself. Severus will sign those papers eventually, you’ll see.” To Felicity, he said, “Molly and Arthur were in the process of adopting Harry when Arthur died.”

“Wow. And yes, I’ll marry you. I hardly know you, but what I know, I like. After living with my father and stepmother, a werewolf shouldn’t bother me.”