Marriage Law Madness

The following day, Lucius stormed into Molly’s room in an extremely bad temper. He grabbed his goddaughter by the arm, spinning her around and delivering several hard smacks to her backside. Hermione’s eyes filled with tears as she saw the marks on his arms and face, realizing what he was angry about.

“How could you forget about your familiar! The poor thing was under the couch, traumatized by the events of the past few days. Thank Merlin he’s part Kneazle and had the sense to feed himself. I found a large rip in the dry food bag, obviously inflicted by a claw. The Aurors didn’t even know he was there – until Shacklebolt dropped his pen and it rolled under the couch. He flooed to Hogwarts to see Madam Pomfrey, he got clawed badly and is allergic. Dawlish promised to see to Crookshanks and bring him to Hogwarts after he’d calmed down a bit.”

‘Poor Crookshanks!” she sobbed. “I forgot that he was at home with me. I usually leave him at Hogwarts, but I was asked to take him home as Mrs. Norris was in heat – she kept trying to jump him.”

“That is not a pretty image.” Lucius hugged Hermione to him, letting her know he had forgiven her. “I’m going to go down to admissions and get someone to put something on these scratches. The ones you can’t see are the worst. The effect of twenty efficient little hooks in a particularly sensitive place is indescribable and unfit for discussion. Ask Severus or one of your brothers to describe the sensation to you.” Hermione and Molly both winced as they realized what he meant.

Once he was gone, Hermione dried her eyes and turned back to her reading. The new term began tomorrow, and she had to get ahead as she was going to miss a week. Dumbledore had called Severus into his office, telling him he couldn’t get a refund on Molly’s booking for the potions conference – but, he had gotten the society to agree to a substitution. “Hermione is apprentice level, take her. Her other professors will help her keep up, I’m sure.”

Molly was answering a packet of questions sent to her by owl. She obviously wasn’t able to teach, so Dumbledore himself would be teaching cooking, while Dobby the house elf was starting them off on cleaning by teaching them how to properly do laundry. Questions the girls didn’t feel comfortable asking him were sent to Molly via owl once a week, or twice if there were a lot.

The first one was from Hannah Abbott. “Is there a charm which will block my ears but still allow me to hear my alarm? Neville snores really badly and I cannot sleep without something to block the sound.” Molly advised her to talk to Neville and get Professor Flitwick to teach them an Anti-Snoring charm.

Molly snorted when she read the second one. “Dear Mum. Your daughter is driving me insane. She’s moody, demanding and generally a total brat. Madam Pomfrey is getting tired of reversing hexes. What can I do to alleviate the situation other than placing a “Do not Notice” charm on myself for the next six months? Hope you are well soon. Love, Draco. P.S. I enclose greetings from Madam Pomfrey, as I am writing this in the infirmary. ‘I am going to have to have a serious talk with that girl.’ Molly was too weary to be angry with her.

There was only one more letter in the pile, from Gabrielle. Dear Mum. Is it ok if I call you that? I have had Professor McGonagall hide your sewing machine, as the boys were trying to make valentines on it and got the lever that makes the heart shaped embroidery stitch stuck so it only will work in lime green thread. She was able to fix the lever herself, but I knew you would be most upset if it got broken. It is in your and Dad’s room, and Professor M. set the wards to recognize me, Ginny and Hermione, as we know how to use it and she figured Hermione will want to learn once she comes back as she can’t stand not knowing how to do something. I miss you, please come home soon.”

She quickly went over the next week’s proposed lesson plan, checking the page numbers in the textbooks. Then she slipped her answers into small, sealed envelopes and put them and the lesson plans into a big envelope. One of the volunteers would take it to the local post office for her.

Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts, the French Minister of Magic was briefing Dumbledore on the Beuxbatons situation. “Madam Maxime has been removed as Headmistress pending the outcome of the official investigation. Twenty parents have submitted their requests that their children be moved to other schools at the end of this school year if she is not permanently removed by that time. The healer has been through retraining and has been placed at St. Aleric’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries in Paris, and we are interviewing for someone to fill her position. Would it be possible for Severus to brew enough contraceptive for the girls until there is someone in the position?”

“I’m sure it won’t be a problem, we have several people capable of brewing the potion other than Severus, so if he is too busy someone will do it. His time is stretched somewhat thin with tending to Molly and teaching.” He filled him in on what had happened.

“How terrible. I am glad Miss Delacour has gone to a good home, and I thank you for admitting the other two girls.” The minister looked nervous, like he wanted to ask Dumbledore something but didn’t dare.

“It was the right thing to do, these girls need a supportive environment and the chance to finish their educations. I have sent letters to the heads of Durmstrang, Salem, and the other major wizarding schools telling them that due to the current environment, we are fully equipped to handle pregnant students and rather than expelling them, we would be happy to arrange a transfer. And now I deduce you wish to speak with your daughter. You wanted to ask Severus the last time, but you were afraid.” Dumbledore’s eyes never lost their twinkle as he shot the minister a pointed look.

“Yes, Sir, I would like to talk to her.”

Dumbledore consulted the master schedule. “She should be free now, I’ll see if she is in the staff room.” He stuck his head into the fire, and a few minutes later there was a tap on his office door letting him know she had arrived.

“Come in, Miss DeHarfleur.” Dumbledore was busily conjuring up a third teacup as he spoke.

“You wanted to see me, Headmaster?” She noticed there was someone else in the room, standing with their back to her, staring into the fire. The figure turned around and she whispered, “Daddy?”

“Come here, baby girl.” He opened his arms and she ran to him, burying her head against his neck. “Oh, Angel, I’m so sorry, please forgive me for the way I treated you over this.” He waited a minute, then pulled back. “Let me get a look at you.” He scanned her from head to toe, it was obvious she was well taken care of here. There was a slight bulge in her midriff, attesting to her pregnancy.

“I think I may have inherited the family gene, but Madam Pomfrey refuses to say yet whether or not I am actually carrying twins.” Tia absentmindedly put her hand to her stomach.

“That’s wonderful. Sweetie, who is responsible for you being pregnant, and where is he? I sincerely hope that the ring on your finger means he is going to make an honest woman of you.”

“No, actually, the ring is from someone else. The father is one of my fellow teachers at Beuxbatons, when I told him, the first four words out of his mouth were ‘get rid of it.’ I’m much better off without him. When I arrived here, I fell right into the arms of the astronomy teacher – literally - and decided I was quite happy. He asked me only last night.” Tia blushed prettily.

Dumbledore looked flabbergasted. “Well, that throws everyone’s bets out of the water. We all thought he’d take until at least spring to ask you. The attraction was obvious when you two were first introduced, at least on his part. He didn’t seem to mind the state in which Madame Maxime threw you through the Floo or that nightgown - he looked rather put out when I covered you up.”

“I know, I thought it was rather cute.” Tia was blushing again.

“And does this gentleman have a name?” her father inquired.

“Lucius Malfoy.”

“But he was a…”

“A Death Eater.” Tia cut him off. “I know. He’s made peace with his past, and I have no intention of digging into it.”

“Well, dear, as long as you are happy. Now let’s have a cup of tea and catch up, shall we?

~~~

Later that evening, Severus came to visit with Molly and to pick up Hermione for the night, only to learn that she’d had Lucius drop her at the Leaky Cauldron when he went back to Hogwarts. He found her sitting in room eleven, staring out the magical window with tears running down her face.

His chest constricted. He had been avoiding any further discussion of her guilty feelings until after her parents funeral, hoping that her normally solid common sense would prevail. It was obvious now that he needed to intervene. He had seen that look in her eyes before - a deadness, a total lack of hope. He\'d seen it in so many women - Narcissa Malfoy, the whores of Knockturn Alley, even Molly sometimes during the war - like the night she had tried to destroy the boggart in the drawing room at 12 Grimmaud Place. Each time he time he\'d seen it, he\'d sworn that if he ever had a woman of his own, he\'d move Heaven and Earth to keep that look from her eyes. He slipped back out, intent on doing some shopping before the stores closed for the night. Hermione gave no indication she had noticed his presence at all.