Rise of the Cannonites

Title: Rise of the Cannonites

Pairings: GideonxArthur, BreccxGeorge, ViktorxCharlie and BillxFleur ect.

Summary: a spin off story of 'I did not Sleep with that wizard!' focusing on the Weasley-Prewett family. Tracks the family's rise to fame or is it infamy?

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Chapter 14

July 30, 1996

George was going over yesterday’s receipts with Brecc when out of the office floo popped Aunt Muriel of all people. He nearly fell off the desk in shock…

Only Brecc’s arm steadied him before he and the girls took a tumble…

“Now that’s the sort of welcome I don’t get every day.” The acidic witch snapped.

George swallowed, “Hello Aunt Muriel.”

“Is there a reason I wasn’t invited to your nuptials?”

George winced, “Given the pregnancy we wanted it done sooner rather than later.”

“You were one of the Lilithean pregnancies?” Muriel glared.

George nodded, “Yes, it was a surprise but you have to admit at least I have good taste.”

“I maybe old but I’m not dead. Your Montague is a fine specimen of a man. He may be right up there with my Atticus.” Muriel tapped her cane with a long green nail.

Brecc flushed, “Thank you ma’am.”

“That’s Dowager Lady Malfoy to you young man.” Muriel snipped.

“Beg pardon, Lady Malfoy.” Brecc said sheepishly.

“I only stopped by because I was slightly interested. I read the article in The Daily Prophet and after nearly daily diatribes about this place from Mary; I only wanted to see if she was half-baked as usual. Your mother’s always been a nutter, chasing after what other person’s have and insulting anything that moves. If it wasn’t Arcturus, it would have been some other poor sod.”

“Sales are much better this summer, we used to do almost all of our sales during the school year. So we’re already ahead for this year, we’re good for stock because we were prepping all year for this. Mr. Lupin and Lord Black helped us get this place; Lord Black and Harry are our investors. That’s all legal of course; I made sure that Mr. Lupin saw to that. I was the primary owner with fifty percent of the shop but Brecc and I share that now. I’m supposed to be responsible for making stock but I’m grounded from the lab until after the birth so I’m helping Brecc out.”

“So what is the idiot twin responsible for?”

George winced, “Fred? He’s responsible for sales? We’ve got one of the Eastchurch girls, Verity working with him. She runs the counter and retrieves stock to replenish the shelves. If things keep picking up we’ll be hiring someone to help us through the pre-school rush. Apparently, they think they are short handed…”

 

“Didn’t you have that friend Lee Jordan?”

George nodded, “He got hired by Gideon to announce for Cannon home matches. Alicia and Angelina can’t officially sign on until after Andromeda clears them. We’ll put something in the paper…”

“What about the Warrington heir?”

Brecc groaned, “Cassius? Salazar help us, I hope not. Sure he’s got the muscles to carry and he can read but he’s not too bright. Unlike Marcus Flint, Cassius didn’t have the Quidditch skills to save him. He’ll likely live off his inheritance; with his marks Lady Malfoy honestly he’d be lucky to get a job working at the Ministry in Magical Maintenance.”

“Give the boy the stocking job and keep the Eastchurch girl for the floor.” Muriel dictated. “I believe that the girl was a Ravenclaw, adding another Slytherin would balance you out.”

George sighed, “What do you think Brecc, it’s your choice. Fred will hate it but at least he would get to boss around at least one Slytherin.”

“Just make sure your next hire is a Hufflepuff to keep it balanced.” Muriel warned.

“Is there anything else Aunt Muriel?” George asked nervously.

“What trying to throw me out? I heard you sell whiz bangers.”

George’s chest puffed out, “Best in Britain.”

“Let me see them.”

George waddled over to the copied journals that he stored there that were complete with pictures for Brecc’s records and pulled out the whiz-bang book. He walked over to her and opened it, “Twenty-five percent.”

“Discount? I’m appalled. Fifteen.” Muriel snapped.

“Quite right Lady Malfoy, fifteen it is.” Brecc said quickly.

Muriel barked off an order after paging through the journal catalogue.

George took note, “When do you need that?”

“Callista’s birthday is on the second of August.” Muriel sniffed.

“Draco’s second cousin?” Brecc asked.

“Of course.” Muriel smirked.

“I’ll send it off this afternoon. I’ll have Verity fill it. Should we send the bill to Sancus?”

Muriel nodded, “Sancus sees to all of my bills.”

“He’s a good solicitor.”

“Of course he is, my son Apollus made sure of that.” Muriel smirked.

“Lord Black sent us right to Sancus and he’s been good to us.” George grinned.

“At least Sirius Black has that much sense.” Muriel muttered darkly.

XooooooX

Lavender was wary about Ron having to attend Pavarti’s wedding reception, she was sure he wouldn’t behave himself…

She laced the invitation portkey with a silencing charm that activated if he wanted to say anything mean…

It was also cast with a compulsion charm so that he would come even if he didn’t want to…

She was no Hermione Granger but that didn’t mean that Lavender was unintelligent…

She was excited to have stayed up all night receiving marriage blessing henna tattoos from her best friend. Pansy received them as well but Pavarti’s sister Parina made hers.

When Lavender had asked where Su Li was, Padma had giggled that Su was too ‘manly’ to celebrate with them…

Pavarti had poked her and they’d changed the subject…

Now they were dressed for the bridal party’s arrival…

Mrs. Patil, Pavarti’s mum counted down the portkey in Hindu.

They were snatched up and landed relatively gracefully on the lawn of Pavarti’s new home, Deerfield.

XooooooX

You didn’t get to be Dowager Lady Malfoy without learning to keep your ear to the ground.

Muriel Malfoy nee Prewett quite enjoyed the fact that her great-grand nephew Gideon, who had cheated death somehow, had given her visitation rights to his conniving sister Mary’s ramshackle house. To be frank she was the only one to have such rights, the floo at The Burrow was only registered to open at her home in France, La Petite Maison and St. Mungos.

She’d just dropped by the shop owned by Mary’s twins and from a business standpoint they were doing quite well even if she didn’t quite approve of their business. The article in The Daily Prophet about Weasley Wizard Wheezes opening their doors to protect shoppers with children from Death Eaters had intrigued Muriel. She’d never expected Mary’s offspring to amount to much…

Her brief initial meeting with Mary’s elder brother Gideon, had informed her that the eldest William had joined the infamous Delacour family, Charles had joined the Krum family, the third born Percival was being pursued by the Wood heir, Fridericus was bonded to Lord Johnson’s eldest daughter, Georgius was consort to the future Lord Montague, Ronald was the bonded of Lord Brown’s eldest and Ginevra had ended up with the heir to the Whiz Hard publishing company.

George had welcomed her quite pleasantly as well as politely introducing her to his bonded, who was a fine young man for a Slytherin of course. Then again her Atticus had been quite strapping as well…

Slytherin had habit of snaking- pun intended, all the handsome, eligible scions of good, rich families.

Mary had always been a greedy little girl who was only satisfied taking what belonged to others.

Except that which was Bellatrix Black’s of course, Bella would glare at Mary and she’d go hide behind some elder witch’s skirt.

Maria Dearborn, now Wood hadn’t liked Mary much either…

In fact, from what Muriel knew Mary Prewett hadn’t one friend in either house…

Rumour had it that Mary once said that Slytherin witches would whore themselves to the first wizard who bought them, Ravenclaw witches slept their way into their jobs, Hufflepuffs were hired out of pity and Gryffindors were hired to shut them up.

And she wondered why she had no friends?

Her grandson Xenos had a daughter Ginevra’s age, then again his deceased bonded Demeter was in Mary’s year so of course she would know better then to let her daughter Luna mix with Mary’s children. Especially, when her own twin Aurora had a girl precisely Luna’s age…

Aurora Greengrass had three daughters with Titus formerly of the House of Pucey; Daphne Junia, Maia Livia and Asteria Drusilla. The House of Greengrass had taken the young Nott heir under their authority with the hopes of tying their houses together.

A foolish idea that was! The entire Malfoy family believed that Oran Nott, Theo’s father, was responsible not only for the early demise of his three children born during his first bonding but also that of her daughter Adelia who had the misfortune to have been his first bonded…

When she heard that her great-grandson Draconis was playing with Oran’s son Theodorus, Muriel had been irate. The very idea of Malfoys and Notts having anything to do with one another! It was ridiculous, how Lucius could stand to let Oran Nott’s spawn near his son was a slight on his Aunt Adelia. And Lucius wondered why she spent more time with Apollus’ children as opposed to Abraxus’? Lucius spat on Adelia’s memory and Xenos was a fool…

With her contribution to her great-granddaughter’s birthday party dealt with and her visit to Weasley Wizard Wheezes over, it was time for her daily visit to Mary to rub her face in her idiocy.

Muriel flooed right into The Burrow crowing, “Good afternoon Mary!”

“Drat! Hello Aunt Muriel. Damn that Gideon!” Mary Prewett, previously known as Molly Weasley pouted.

“Guess who I saw this morning?” Muriel asked viperously.

Molly flinched, “Who?”

“George and Brecc Montague, I’m continually surprised that such intelligent and ambitious children came from your womb.” Muriel snipped.

“Has their harebrained business failed yet?”

Muriel snorted, “With my Sancus as their solicitor and investors like Harry Potter and Lord Black hardly. Besides, they were even polite enough to offer me a discount and agree to take on one of Brecc’s former Housemates as a stockboy. Won’t Lady Warrington be pleased. They’ve only been officially in business what three weeks and they already need another employee? That’s quite an accomplishment; Sancus said their products were audacious but profitable. So he should be quite fine with paying my bill, I just bought all of the whiz-bangs for his daughter’s birthday party.”

Molly gasped, “You bought from the twins?”

Muriel sniffed, “Of course, they have the best whiz-bangs in Britain. As if my Sancus would appreciate me not patronising one of his newest clients when I share blood with them.”

“They’re just wasting their minds! They could have gone to work for the Ministry like Percy!” Molly wailed.

“Percy will either be the youngest Department Head at the Ministry or he’ll be working for Gideon at the Canons. Your precious William who you forced to quite the Gryffindor has quit working for Gringotts to fly for the Cannons as one of their Keepers with Oliver Wood. Lady Cassiopeia Wood and Lady Cedrella were discussing it over tea yesterday at Wellesley Hall. Cassiopeia still believes that her grandson Oliver will bond to your Percy, apparently everyone but you would approve of the match.” Muriel smirked.

“Why do you keep coming over to tell me such horrible things?” Molly whinged.

“Because Mary you are my least favourite relative! Speaking of news, apparently your grandstanding that you would be the mother-in-law of The Boy Who Lived was just as groundless as we all suspected. My grandson Xenos had a special exclusive interview. Actually,” Muriel’s expression was very viper-like, “he joined my family. Harry Potter is the consort of my great-grandson Draconis.”

Molly flinched, “No! Not the Malfoys! Ron told him we have a feud with them!”

Muriel snorted, “What feud? I’m on good terms with the Prewetts and the Weasleys thank you, better terms then you are of course. Where do you get off filling your children’s minds with falsehoods?”

Molly glared, “As if you didn’t fill your sons’ heads with that pureblood nonsense!”

“Did you forget that you’re a pureblood Mary? Your father was a Prewett; the firstborn of Lucida Black and your mother was Danbrain Burke, Betria Black’s eldest daughter. Purebloods are usually richer, will go farther in life, marry better and are most often stronger magically so why shouldn’t we believe that we are the best the Wizarding World has to offer?” Muriel sniffed. “I know your blood quite well because my brother Cador was your great-grandfather so don’t go pretending with me missy.”

“Why can’t you just leave me alone?” Molly whinged.

“What and miss making you act like a two-year-old? You can’t imagine how pleased I was to learn that I would be your only permitted visitor. I never liked you Mary Lynette and I believed you’d come to a bad end. I would have preferred to be wrong but this is just too awful. Your poor parents…”

“You never liked them anyway.” Molly pouted.

“Drystan spoilt you and Danbrain died on you, Cedrella did her best by you but you bucked her at every turn. She was pleased to find out not only was Gideon alive but he wanted to take Arcturus back. That was the first good choice he’d made in years. He shouldn’t have let you toy with Arcturus and his children for so long. Arcturus may have been weak-willed but he deserved better then you.”

“He should have been mine!”

“A pity you and Bellatrix weren’t friends, you two were so much alike; spiteful and greedy.” Muriel sneered, “Well I’m off to have lunch with Sancus’ children. I’ll see you tomorrow Mary!”

Molly screeched at her, “Molly! My name is Molly!”

Muriel snorted as she zipped through the floo system to the main house of the French estate.

The wilful girl’s name was Mary Lynette Prewett! That was what she would call her…

If only to irritate the wench…

XooooooX

Bill and Victor had overlapping practices that afternoon.

Bill had always had a good ear for languages had spent the summer of the World Cup learning what Russian and Romanian that Charlie would teach him.

With Viktor and Maximus who were both Eastern European and graduates of Durmstrang on the team, they were often picking on one another in Russian now that Maximus had gotten over his nervousness about coaching Viktor Krum.

For someone who couldn’t play Quidditch, Percy had good instincts. He’d been surprised to learn that Percy had met Maximus at the World Cup quarterfinals and they’d kept up a correspondence. They were going to moulded into a team by the captain of teams who had gone to the National championship and the World Cup. While Max was no Viktor Krum, it was clear that he would win against most Seekers…

Maximus had tested both the Keepers and the Chasers that could play: himself and Oliver as well as Flint and Davies.

He had Davies and Flint play against one another and try to score against himself and Oliver.

During lunch, Fred would join them for practice and would play against Max O’Flaherty.

Fred may want a stake in the joke shop he ran with George and Brecc but he really was more suited to being a Beater…

A hand clasped Bill’s shoulder, “Bill ‘ow iz Fleur?”

“She’s getting bored with nesting I think? She’s decided that painting in anything other than watercolour is too dangerous for the baby.” Bill said rubbing his neck. “She loves the house but she’s rather at loose ends at present…”

“Weel I know zhat ze Headmaster be needing someone to teach and keep the bonded Seventh Years focused. A sort of tutor?” Viktor mused. “He hired more teachers to share the burden of teaching the core classes.”

“I heard that Flitwick was teaching the bonded Fifth Years himself…” Bill mused. “There how are many of those? There is Ginny, Mal, Colin and Luna…far too small a class to require multiple teachers. They will probably be better off for the small class size.”

“There is another, I heard about it the other day when I had to leave practice early, a girl who will soon be bonding to our ward Jacob. Charlie said that there are now a few more Seventh Years: Jacob Levey, Cho Chang, Katie Belby, Giselle Goyle who is the Head Girl this year, Lysippe Flitwick, Duncan Inglebee, Herbert Fleet and Calibom Weasley-Bones. Charlie said there are three Ravenclaws, two Slytherins, two Gryffindors and a Hufflepuff.”

“I am surprised there are that many…” Bill murmured.

“There were what forty pregnancies? It is probable that there will be more older students involved…” Viktor mused.

“How will the students deal with pregnancy, demanding babies and schoolwork I wonder?” Bill said thoughtfully.

“If Fleur tutors the Seventh Years, I’m sure that given that Chang, Goyle-Bulstrode and Inglebee are pregnant she might allow the babies to sleep in a nearby classroom with your Louis under the watchful eye of a house elf or two. Jacob, Belby, Flitwick, Fleet and your cousin Calibom are sires so they won’t really need breaks for feeding and changing…” Viktor shrugged.

“I will discuss it with Fleur, she might like the idea. Her description of the French Ministry’s equivalent of our NEWT exams sounded far more strenuous even if they take their OWL equivalent sixth year rather then seventh…” Bill mused.

“Well I’m off to see Charlie.”

Bill nodded, “Give him my best.”

Viktor winked at him, “I always give him mine.”

Bill groaned.

Viktor was definitely the sort that his closest brother needed…

 

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What do you think? Outstanding? Exceeds expectations? Acceptable? Poor? Dreadful? Troll?

A/N: Anyone interested in the Dearborn/Li Reception can read Fire-burnished Golden Ties. Do you want to read my rendition of the Hindu rough equivalent of a bachelorette party?