Marriage Law Madness

Severus groaned as an owl flew into the classroom. “Keep working.” He snapped at several Ravenclaws who looked askance at seeing the Minister of Magic’s private owl in the potions classroom. Fudge had been held up and wanted to go to Lupin’s after dinner. ‘Wonder if he remembers it’s a full moon?’ Severus thought on his way to meet him later that evening. Fudge had agreed to approve the marriage on the condition that they live together for a month, so she’d have an idea of what she was dealing with in regards to the werewolf thing.

After an emotional reunion, Severus casually said “So, sis, how is Sofie taking to the fact that dad turns into a wolf?” Severus inquired. Fudge blanched. Obviously he hadn’t looked at the moon.

“I can’t convince her he isn’t a dog.” A pained yelp came from the other room.

“How many times do I have to tell you not to pull Daddy’s tail?” Felicity scolded.

She got up to put Sofie to bed. When she returned, Fudge and Severus were sitting at the table. “Let me get Remus some dinner, then we can talk. It was too hot for him to eat earlier.” She chopped the strands of Spaghetti, tossed them with some sauce into a bowl and placed it on the floor.

“Well, here’s the thing.\" Fudge seemed nervous. \"I actually originally just wanted to check on how you were and start the marriage paperwork, but something’s come up this morning. How do you feel about more children?” he asked.

“I can’t have any more, but I would have liked more.” Felicity was wondering where this conversation was leading.

“I think I may have the perfect child for you.” Fudge said. “Her name’s Aurora. She’s seven, a little brunette beauty with big hazel eyes. There’s only one problem. A werewolf bit her last night. The orphanage handed her over to St. Mungo’s this morning wanting her put down.”

“Put down? That’s awful.” Felicity shuddered.

“Since she was bitten just after sundown, she transformed right away and they had to chase her off into the woods. We’ve managed to procure some Wolfsbane for tonight and put her in the secure ward. There is no place to send her, and Percy suggested that a family with a werewolf already in it may be the best place for her.”

Remus came over and sat next to Felicity’s chair, waving his shaggy tail. “I think he’s saying we’ll take her.”

“Can you get her in the morning? Severus, she’ll need more Wolfsbane tomorrow night.”

“I made a cauldron full for Remus, there’s plenty, but I need to know the dose for a child. I’ve only worked with adult werewolves.” Severus wasn’t taking any chances.

They got up to leave after making arrangements for Felicity to come down to St. Mungo’s the next morning. Fudge shook Felicity’s hand, then looked down as he felt something brush his leg. Severus had to stifle a laugh. Lupin was sitting there with his paw out, waiting to shake Fudge’s hand. He couldn’t wait to tell Molly.

~~~
The next day…
~~~

Molly was busily putting the finishing touches on the Room of Requirement for Minerva’s Hens night. Witches were coming from all over Britain to see Minerva marry off. One of Minerva’s teachers from the 1920’s was still alive and coming, several Order of the Phoenix members, and most importantly, her son-in-law had given permission for her daughter to come.

Tables were laden with food, there was a table for gifts, with a Dictoquill to record who gave what so Minerva could write thank you notes. That was the good thing about delivery by owl, you didn’t need to have the addresses. She fussed over the cake, then started to mix the punch.

Meanwhile, Severus and Remus had gone to check on the bachelor party preparations with Madam Rosmerta. They had reserved the entire inn, since all the men getting married were sharing a party.

~~~

The women started trickling in, Neville’s grandmother bringing an elaborately wrapped package that hummed. Many of the women had also brought gifts for Molly, as nobody had thought to give her a shower under the circumstances. The women had collectively decided afterwards to just give individual gifts and then have a blowout baby shower, since it had, after all, been fifteen years since she’d had a baby and had given everything away, not thinking she’d ever use it again.

Felicity was managing the punch bowl, her children downstairs in the Slytherin dorm. They had given Aurora something to make her sleep so they could see how the potion affected her. Dobby was keeping an eye on her and Sofie so Felicity could go to the party. Remus had declared his intention to go to the bachelor party, and to see just what happened if a wolf got drunk. Molly had a whole cauldron of Sober Up potion waiting down in the potions lab for when the men came home.

Everyone seemed determined to make Minerva blush more than the person before. The gift from Neville’s grandmother turned out to be a magical sex toy from the most exclusive shop in London. She got toys, books, a magical strip poker set and stacks of lingerie, but nothing topped the gift from Lucius and Severus, which they had sent up with Ginny. It consisted of a magical copy of the Kama Sutra and a new tartan nightgown. Only this one was silk, very short, had baby doll sleeves and matching emerald silk panties and robe. The women were rolling on the floor laughing.

~~~

Meanwhile, the men had already gone through a keg of mead and several large bottles of Ogden’s Old Firewhisky. Percy, having little tolerance for alcohol, had gotten drunk the fastest. He’d stripped to his boxers, swinging his shirt above his head while singing the Hogwarts school song to the tune of “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” Mercifully, he’d passed out after a couple of verses. Fred and George laughed as they hoisted him up and took him upstairs. Fudge came up behind them. “Put him in Rosmerta’s bed. This is payback for when he gave the President of the US a canary cream during our meeting with the American Ministry.” Who knew that Fudge actually had a sense of humor and enjoyed a good practical joke?

“I wondered how he found out about us. He’s become one of out best customers. He’s a great fan of the Skiving Snckboxes for when meetings run too long. He’s ordered ten dozen canary creams to feed to their Wizengamot and the Muggle cabinet, too.”

“Oh, Merlin, the minister’s going to kill me!” Fudge moaned.

Lupin was passed out in front of the fire after lapping several large bowls of mead, while George was under the table snoring, and Shaklebolt, Neville, Draco, Harry and Ron were singing along to the Muggle Karaoke. Dumbledore had enchanted it to run on magic so the younger boys, who weren’t old enough for anything but Butterbeer; had something to keep themselves amused. Shacklebolt had to work early the next morning, so he was abstaining. “A Groovy Kind of Love” finished, and they launched into “Love and Marriage.”

Lucius was getting drunker by the minute, and when the next song came on, he said, “This one’s mine, for Narcissa & Lucy.” But he was so slurred it came out “Narschissa and Lushki.” Soon, he was warbling painfully to “My Heart Will Go On.” Pity, he actually had a decent voice when he was sober.

“Hey Rosie, give us a song!” The men kept bugging her, and she finally agreed. “This one’s for Molly Weasley, who has achieved what so many of you said was impossible. Not only has she tamed the ‘sarcastic bastard,’ she has gotten him to wash his hair regularly and turned him into a model husband, when he isn’t chucking cauldrons around. Those of you who bet against him, pay up at the bar. So, thus, the ballad of Molly and Sev.” She clicked the dial till she found the song she wanted, and started into an old big band tune.

Another bride, another June
Another sunny honeymoon
Another season, another reason
For makin\' whoopee!
A lot of shoes, a lot of rice
The groom is nervous, he answers twice
It\'s really killin\' that he\'s so willin\'
To makin\' whoopie

Picture a little love nest
Down where the roses cling
Picture the same sweet love nest
Think what a year can bring

He\'s washing dishes and baby clothes
He\'s so ambitious, he even sews
But don\'t forget folks, that\'s what you get folks
For makin\' whoopee

But don\'t forget folks, that\'s what you get folks
For makin\' whoopee!

She finished to catcalls and applause. Severus, however was so embarrassed he looked like a tomato. “Rosie, how much is there on the books? Against me, I mean?”

“Almost 1000 Galleons. And there’s already 500 galleons on different numbers of kids.” She sounded apologetic.

“What are you going to do with it?”

“I was thinking of a playground. The kids in Hogsmeade have nowhere to play since they built on the vacant lot. Can’t you just see them in Snape Park?”

“Name it Weasley park – and put in some Muggle playground equipment.”

“There’s enough for two – maybe I’ll do both. You’re going to have lots of little ones running around Hogwarts pretty soon, too.”

~~~
The men started stumbling through back to Hogwarts through the Floo, which had been set for the parties so they came back to the Room of Requirement. Severus carried Lupin over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, while the younger boys and Shacklebolt supported the other men. Having cleared away the mess from the wedding shower, Molly had informed the room what she needed. Several dozen single beds lined the walls, and she started helping the men into them and dosing them with Sober-Up potion. She’d had Hermione make it, and was wearing protective gear to handle it.

Her husband dumped Lupin unceremoniously on a one of the beds and drunkenly stumbled to the next one, goosing Molly when she walked by. “Not now, Severus. I’m working.”

“Later then?” he slurred before she thrust the Sober Up into his hand and went on to the next patient.

“If you behave.” When she turned around, he was fast asleep – still sitting up. She put down the tray and undressed him with a spell, summoning his pajamas from her bag. She swung his legs onto the bed, covering him with a blanket. ‘He won’t remember a thing in the morning. Guess this is why Minerva insisted on having the party two nights before.’

Her daughter came into the room then. Malfoy was with her. “Ginevra Molly Weasley, do you have permission to be out of bed?”

Ginny ignored the question, blurting out, “Mum, I can’t do this. I’m not ready yet. How can I raise a baby when I haven’t even grown up myself yet?” She looked at Molly, fully expecting to be told to quit sniveling and go to bed.

To Ginny’s shock, Molly nodded, gathering Ginny in her arms. “I understand, angel. I wish I had waited longer. Your stepdad and I will help with the baby, but you are just going to have to be brave and get through the next eight and a half months. I was very proud when Poppy told me you had outright refused to just get rid of the baby - I really didn’t want your brother Bill until he started moving. Then I fell in love. I was only three years older than you, you know. The idea of being a mother scared me, and I had no family to go to for help. You’ll have a loving support group, and you can get married when you are both ready.”

She magically expanded one of the beds, tucking Ginny and Draco in for the night. Then she did the same to Severus’s bed, climbing in beside him. He immediately rolled over to snuggle, and she wearily told the lights to turn themselves off. She drifted off into sleep, pleasantly warm.

~~~
Friday evening, as Dumbledore was in his office pacing off nervous energy and muttering his vows to himself, the wards informed him that someone had attempted to access his Floo from Beuxbatons. He lowered the block, and a tall seventh year boy wearing light blue robes stepped through, looking extremely distressed.

He looked at Dumbledore, waiting for permission to speak. Dumbledore spoke first.

“I would presume you are the boyfriend of one of our new girls?”

“Yes, sir. I’m Michael, Florian’s boyfriend – I’ve been betrothed to her since I was three, and then our parents pull this. They didn’t bother to tell me, and all Madame Maxime did was give me detention when I mentioned her name. When I heard some of the other girls talking about things, I put two and two together. She’s here then, sir?”

“Yes, she’s here. Give me a moment and I’ll send for her. He threw in some powder and Severus Snape’s head appeared in the fire.

“You have lousy timing, Albus. What is it?”

Dumbledore explained the situation. “Would Molly mind coming with you, it’s after Midnight, I’m not allowed to see Minerva. She’s got all the brides sequestered in Griffindor, and threw all the men out to other common rooms for the night.”

Severus and Molly didn’t bother to get dressed, they simply threw their dressing gowns on and Flooed to Slytherin. Albus had thoughtfully added a small chamber next to their bedroom with a fireplace that went back and forth to the Slytherin common room. Molly went to the girl’s rooms, returning with a sleepy Florian.

“Your fiancé is here.” Severus said gently. “He’d like to see you.”

When they came through the intraschool Floo, Florian launched herself at Michael, smothering him with kisses. After their tearful reunion, they sat down to plan their future. They decided the best way to go about things was to get married in the morning with the others, even if they had to do it in their school robes. It was the only way to ensure their families couldn\'t interfere. Dumbledore signed the paperwork for Fudge to countersign, then started to discuss the plans for the next day.

“She deserves a dress at least, Albus. Can’t we come up with something?” That’s how a dressing gown and slipper clad Severus Snape ended up banging on the door to Madam Malkin’s apartment over her shop at two-fifteen in the morning.