Marriage Law Madness
folder
Harry Potter › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
31
Views:
27,635
Reviews:
122
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Harry Potter › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
31
Views:
27,635
Reviews:
122
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Molly's Dilemma
One Month Later
Hermes flew into the Burrow through the owl door and dropped a letter on the kitchen table where Molly was sitting with a cup of tea. “A letter from Percy?” she asked the owl, who tapped the letter’s wax seal with its beak in confirmation. She got up and motioned toward the perch that was now empty, the family owl, Errol, finally passing on a few months before. She put water in the dish and filled the other bowl with some leftover owl chow, then sat back down to read her letter.
Dear Mother,
I have some information for you that could get me fired if anyone finds out I told you. A man who I cannot name in case this is intercepted has asked repeatedly for your hand in marriage. He is a former Death Eater (pardoned, unfortunately) a liar, thief and worshipper of the dark arts. Start looking for a mate now so you have another offer on the table. I have managed to ‘misplace’ his paperwork until now, but he took his request to Fudge. I know we haven’t gotten along well in recent years, but know I mean this from the heart – it would be easier for you to have fallen in the battle than to wed this man.
Your Son,
Percy
Molly got up quickly, grabbed her cloak and headed towards the fireplace. As an afterthought, she turned to Hermes. “I’ll Floo Percy from Hogwarts, so you don’t have to stay for an answer. But stay as long as you like.” Hermes hooted in acknowledgement as Molly took some Floo powder from the flowerpot and said “Hogwarts, Dumbledore!” Seconds later she stepped out of the emerald green flames of the fireplace in Dumbledore’s Office.
Having been alerted to her arrival by the castle wards, Dumbledore was waiting for her, as was Dobby with a large tea tray. Molly handed Dumbledore the letter, and he immediately threw some more powder into the fireplace. “Staffroom!” He stuck his head into the fire, saying, “Minerva, could you dismiss staff meeting and come up here, please? Bring Severus and Poppy with you, and tell her or Severus to bring a calming draught.”
He then backed out of the fire and poured Molly a cup of tea and offered her some cake. By the time they had settled themselves, Minerva, Snape and Poppy were there. Dumbledore showed them the letter while Molly shakily poured them some tea. Severus took a small vial out of his robes and tipped it into Molly’s cup. “New calming potion,” he said by way of explanation. “Odorless, tasteless, and can be added to anything. I’m working on them for St. Mungo’s – they have a few patients that they can’t get to take the standard version.”
“Well, I think the first thing we need to know is who we are dealing with here.” Snape got up and headed towards the fireplace. “Percy Weasley!” Then he returned to his chair and picked up his teacup. A few minutes later Percy emerged from the fireplace.
“Sorry it took so long, I was in a meeting with Fudge. I’m guessing you need more information about the marriage proposal?” At Molly’s nod he continued. “The man in question is Constantine Avery.” Snape blanched visibly. “He took his request to Fudge, so I didn’t have a choice. The best I could do was to warn you. I also have put forth a proposed amendment to the law, allowing for an appeal if someone strenuously objects to a match. But I don’t think it will be approved in time to help you.”
Molly looked at him with eyes that were beginning to fill with tears. “You’re telling me that unless I can find someone who wants an overweight, not too pretty, mother of seven with no dowry I am totally lost.” Percy moved to his mother’s side, but Snape got there first.
“Molly, you know that I swore to fight this law and not marry until forced. But Avery was my roommate both at Hogwarts and at the Death Eater camp in the first war. I know what his ideas are, and Percy’s right, you’d be dead within a month. That said, if you haven’t found somebody at the end of the month, I would marry you myself rather than subject you to that monster. I’m no catch by any stretch of the word, but I’d make a decent spouse with some training. And frankly, I\'d rather see you marry a mountain troll than Avery. At least you could trick the troll when it tried to hurt you.” Snape paused to take a breath while everyone in the room stared at him.
“Albus, didn’t your mother ever tell you that if you make a face like that it will stick that way?” Snape said.
“Good, I’d rather see her with you than Avery if she has to remarry. I’d suggest you put the offer in now, just so he can’t try to manipulate the system by saying that there aren’t likely to be any other offers. If he went to Fudge there would be nothing I could do. Hang on and I’ll get the forms.” He stepped back into the fire, returning a few minutes later with the paperwork.
Hermes flew into the Burrow through the owl door and dropped a letter on the kitchen table where Molly was sitting with a cup of tea. “A letter from Percy?” she asked the owl, who tapped the letter’s wax seal with its beak in confirmation. She got up and motioned toward the perch that was now empty, the family owl, Errol, finally passing on a few months before. She put water in the dish and filled the other bowl with some leftover owl chow, then sat back down to read her letter.
Dear Mother,
I have some information for you that could get me fired if anyone finds out I told you. A man who I cannot name in case this is intercepted has asked repeatedly for your hand in marriage. He is a former Death Eater (pardoned, unfortunately) a liar, thief and worshipper of the dark arts. Start looking for a mate now so you have another offer on the table. I have managed to ‘misplace’ his paperwork until now, but he took his request to Fudge. I know we haven’t gotten along well in recent years, but know I mean this from the heart – it would be easier for you to have fallen in the battle than to wed this man.
Your Son,
Percy
Molly got up quickly, grabbed her cloak and headed towards the fireplace. As an afterthought, she turned to Hermes. “I’ll Floo Percy from Hogwarts, so you don’t have to stay for an answer. But stay as long as you like.” Hermes hooted in acknowledgement as Molly took some Floo powder from the flowerpot and said “Hogwarts, Dumbledore!” Seconds later she stepped out of the emerald green flames of the fireplace in Dumbledore’s Office.
Having been alerted to her arrival by the castle wards, Dumbledore was waiting for her, as was Dobby with a large tea tray. Molly handed Dumbledore the letter, and he immediately threw some more powder into the fireplace. “Staffroom!” He stuck his head into the fire, saying, “Minerva, could you dismiss staff meeting and come up here, please? Bring Severus and Poppy with you, and tell her or Severus to bring a calming draught.”
He then backed out of the fire and poured Molly a cup of tea and offered her some cake. By the time they had settled themselves, Minerva, Snape and Poppy were there. Dumbledore showed them the letter while Molly shakily poured them some tea. Severus took a small vial out of his robes and tipped it into Molly’s cup. “New calming potion,” he said by way of explanation. “Odorless, tasteless, and can be added to anything. I’m working on them for St. Mungo’s – they have a few patients that they can’t get to take the standard version.”
“Well, I think the first thing we need to know is who we are dealing with here.” Snape got up and headed towards the fireplace. “Percy Weasley!” Then he returned to his chair and picked up his teacup. A few minutes later Percy emerged from the fireplace.
“Sorry it took so long, I was in a meeting with Fudge. I’m guessing you need more information about the marriage proposal?” At Molly’s nod he continued. “The man in question is Constantine Avery.” Snape blanched visibly. “He took his request to Fudge, so I didn’t have a choice. The best I could do was to warn you. I also have put forth a proposed amendment to the law, allowing for an appeal if someone strenuously objects to a match. But I don’t think it will be approved in time to help you.”
Molly looked at him with eyes that were beginning to fill with tears. “You’re telling me that unless I can find someone who wants an overweight, not too pretty, mother of seven with no dowry I am totally lost.” Percy moved to his mother’s side, but Snape got there first.
“Molly, you know that I swore to fight this law and not marry until forced. But Avery was my roommate both at Hogwarts and at the Death Eater camp in the first war. I know what his ideas are, and Percy’s right, you’d be dead within a month. That said, if you haven’t found somebody at the end of the month, I would marry you myself rather than subject you to that monster. I’m no catch by any stretch of the word, but I’d make a decent spouse with some training. And frankly, I\'d rather see you marry a mountain troll than Avery. At least you could trick the troll when it tried to hurt you.” Snape paused to take a breath while everyone in the room stared at him.
“Albus, didn’t your mother ever tell you that if you make a face like that it will stick that way?” Snape said.
“Good, I’d rather see her with you than Avery if she has to remarry. I’d suggest you put the offer in now, just so he can’t try to manipulate the system by saying that there aren’t likely to be any other offers. If he went to Fudge there would be nothing I could do. Hang on and I’ll get the forms.” He stepped back into the fire, returning a few minutes later with the paperwork.