The Good Life

Chapter 2

"You ... you're a wizard?" she asked, completely blown away.

"Yes," he replied with a sigh. "I was born as Brian McCarthy, the only heir of a prominent pureblood family in Ireland. Then, right out of Hogwarts, I fell in love with this muggle girl. I told her about me once, and I was forced to Obliviate her afterwards, she had such a strong negative reaction. But I loved her, and I left the Wizarding World for her. She still doesn't know. Neither does Alex."

"But that means Alex is a halfblood. That opens up so many doors for her," Hermione said.

"You mean besides the one you have planned for her?" he asked shrewdly.

"Well, yes," Hermione admitted.

"What exactly is it that you want with her?"

"The Minister wants to take over as much of Wizarding Europe as he can. He's very ambitious that way, but he's making sure to prove that his systems work here first, before going elsewhere. He hopes to take them over with cunning and proof that his ways work better rather than force. He wants Alex so she can read the reactions and feelings the other dignitaries have towards him and his plans so he knows how to convince them that he's right."

"You mean manipulate."

"I mean do whatever in his power to achieve his goals."

"Some would say that's wrong."

"Those that would say such a thing shouldn't do so anywhere but the safety of their own home. Bryan, The Minister is like a father to me, but he is a very hard, cold, and demanding man. Under his watch, I have done many things that people would say are wrong, but they fitted my purposes and let's be honest, torture is fun. It's much more of a mindset of the ends always justifying the means. But we were talking about you and your wife," she said in an effort to bring the subject back to its origins.

"Ah, yes. Well, since she found out about Alex, she's become angrier and more withdrawn. She thinks that Alex is some kind of freak and the longer she's apart from us it gets worse. She's become bossier than ever." At this, Hermione let out a slight snort as she wondered if that were even possible. "So I've decided to leave her."

"Does she know yet?"

"No. The papers are being drawn up first."

"Are you going to tell her about you being a wizard?"

"I haven't decided. Probably."

"Well, I'll be happy to help with anything you need."

"Thank you, Hermione," he told her, taking her hand in his.

"It's nothing," she told him, waving her hand to prove it. "Now, where were you thinking of moving to?"

"I haven't really decided. I was thinking perhaps Hogsmeade, to give Alex a chance of living somewhere where her magic is completely accepted and understood, so she doesn't always have to be on guard around muggles."

They spent the next ten minutes going over the detail of what he would be looking for in a house. "How soon do you want it?" she asked.

"If possible, before school lets out."

"Bryan, it would be possible for me to have a house for you tomorrow."

He just looked at her and shook his head somewhat. "I don't want someone kicked out of their home for me," he told her.

"Fine," she answered, giving him an appraising look. "I will have your house two weeks before school starts so you have time to get it set up. Which reminds me, I have to get Alex her coming-of-age gift."

"You don't have to do that," he told her.

"Of course I do. Alex is practically family. Besides, I'm her mentor, it's only appropriate."

"Just don't go overboard, then," he requested.

"Oh, before I leave, do you mind if I take a sample of your blood to verify that you are who you say you are? I trust you, but proof goes a long way."

"Alright," he agreed. "But you probably shouldn't take out your wand to do it where anyone can see."

"I don't need my wand," she replied, at which he gave a shocked expression. "It's more of a comfort for others. I worked long and hard at wandless magic, but there are many who don't like seeing a mudblood with so much power, even one who is so close to the Minister."

She muttered a spell under her breath and a long vial with a cork stop appeared in one hand. Before she could do anything to Bryan, he cut her off. "You know, even if you don't need it, I would feel more comfortable with you cutting me open with a wand."

She grinned up to him. "Understandable. While I'm quite adept at wandless cutting curses, I can see where you'd feel that way." They then made their way into a nearby shed, Hermione unlocking the door. Inside the shed, she took out her wand and cut a short cut along his arm, placing the vial below so the blood could run into it. When there was enough, she healed the cut and stopped the vial.

As they left the shed, realizing that she had no pockets, she tucked the vial into the waistband of her skirt, holding it with a sticking charm and smoothing her top over the edge of the skirt to cover it up. When she looked up to see Elizabeth Mack striding towards them, she knew that the woman would not believe that the situation she had just seen was truly innocuous. She smiled over to him. "Good luck," she told him as she went back into the shed and apparated away.

Instead of going shopping, Hermione went immediately to the library at the Ministry, where she checked the lineage books to see that Brian McCarthy had indeed been disowned by his family at the time Bryan would have left his family for his wife. After that, she went to the Department of Births and Marraiges, where she asked for a paternity potion and confirmed that Bryan was, indeed, Brian McCarthy. She then went up to the Minister's floor.

"Hi, Ali," she greeted her old friend, who was now secretary to the Minister. "I need to see the Minister whenever he becomes available."

"No problem," the blonde answered. Looking down at the book in front of her, she cast a spell and the book read that the Minister would be free in one hour. In the meantime, Hermione went down to Finnigan's office to have her memories of her meeting recorded and came back up.

"So, how are Blaise and the boys?" Hermione asked her friend.

"Oh, they're great," Ali gushed. "So Draco's off to Spain?"

Hermione nodded. "I only hope that he finds someone to bring home. Lucius is ready to choose the mother of his heir." Ali crinkled her nose at the prospect, coming to the same conclusions Hermione had. They continued gossiping while Ali did her work until the Minister's previous appointment left the office. Ali entered the office to see if he had time to see Hermione, and when she came out, sent her friend in.

"Hello, Minister," she said, curtsying to her father figure.

"Hello, Hermione. What brings you here today?" he asked in a congenial manner than would make many stop and drop dead of shock.

"I just had a very interesting meeting with Bryan Mack," she told him, describing the meeting and her findings afterwards. "I would like to pay a visit to the McCarthy's and show them my verification of this information."

"Yes," the Minister said as he leaned back in his chair in thought. "If Alex is a half-blood, that will help somewhat with some of the dignitaries trusting her," he said almost under his breath. "When you visit them, if they do not wish so, persuade Patrick McCarthy to reinstate Bryan into the family. It will automatically change the girl's name and inheritance to one of much more respect."

"Yes, Minister. That was what I had hoped to do, but I would never want to make such a decision without your input," she told him in earnest. He smiled over to her, knowing that she was one of the few who deferred to him out of respect, rather than fear.

"Though, it might help if Alex were to be told of her heritage before her name automatically changes on her Hogwarts documents."

"Yes, yes," the Minister waved off. "I will set up a meeting between all the necessary parties for tonight. You will collect Mister Mack and be at Hogwarts at seven."

"Yes, Minister," she replied, standing up and giving another curtsey before leaving.


*thanks to buffyxo for betaing and to everyone who reviewed the last chapter.... silverserpent, guard geeek, and alabaster (i'm impressed on you quick reading of the first story, lol, though admittedly, the chapters are rather short) and a happy happy fourth to everyone, even if you're not american!