Captive Bride

Chapter 3

Lucius layed Hermione down on a sofa in the library the other two settling in the wing chairs across from him. He watched silently as Snape leaned forward.

“We have no choice. We have to let Dumbledore know where she is at and what has happen. We can’t sweep this under the rug. Not with the expectations Voldemort expects from you two.” Snape stated.

Lucius turned to walk over to the vast wall of books shelves. Thinking fast. “We don’t know how long we have Severus. She could wake up tomorrow it could be three days from now. All I know at this point is that I must be there when she does. Either way you are right, Dumbledore must be told. But not about everything. I refuse to let him know, everything. This goes outside of the wizard community. There are enough of us who know without letting him in on the secret. A secret that he could twist to his advantage.”

“I don’t understand. In a few years her descendant would have been married into our line. Why is it so drastic that it is happening now.” Draco stared in confusion at Hermione.

“It has to do with an ancient prophecy. So old that, maybe, even Dumbledore would consider it a legend. A geas on your family, and mine,” Snape said wryly, “Draco think how many families do you know of that are as old as ours? Now take those families and count how many are from the British Isles. None. The only one that even comes close is the Krums. They are also from the North, the ancient people of Scandinavia. That is why there were such mixed feelings when Victor expressed his interest in her a few years ago. That is why your father nipped that romance in the bud over summer vacation following. By making it clear to the Krums that she was ours and they had to look elsewhere. Remember she is an only child. Her cousins are all males. Your father has in his possession a book that can trace her lineage as far back as yours. Her ancestors are the same as yours. Only she is of a line of wise women, healers, and fairies. While ours have been wizards, druids… Sithe. Every few generations we take one of her family’s female match her up with a wizarding family and then take that child and bring her into our families.”

“Her child was suppose to be matched to your child. By adding wizarding blood but, not our blood with Hermione we could add her strength and fertility and still go around the prophecy that follows us.” Lucius spoke from his place by the fire.

“Ah, I see. So the prophecy found a way to be filled unexpectedly through the Dark Lord. They taught us that fate is a woman and she always finds her way. Father what is this prophecy exactly? Why didn’t you tell me about this when you explained about our family heritage?”

“At the time there was no need. I had planned on her setting her sights on another pureblood whom would have been acceptable. We’ve used their family before but not often.” Lucius looked at his son.

“Weasleys.” Draco hissed.

“Yes.”

“If I may interrupt this lovely chat, but it is almost dawn. We need to decide now how much we must tell Dumbledore and soon. Dumbledore will be awake and he WILL know that Miss Granger has not returned to the castle for the night to sleep. He ALWAYS knows who has been gone. He keeps an especially good eye on the students. Or he has the house elves keep him alert. He will most likely track her down here and be furious for having to do so. We must contact him first, if we are to salvage any of our secrets.” Snape snarled as he walked to the window and twitched aside the curtain to peer into the east.

“Simple.” Muttered a drowsy Mione as she wiggled around to cuddle deeper into the cushions. “Tell him the truth. I was kidnapped and made to marry Malfoy….now please be quiet….Zzzz” Mione fell deeper into sleep unaware of the startled, gaping mouths directed her way.

“Out of the mouth of babes,” Lucius murmured. “That might just work. You know Dumbledore better, Severus, how would he feel if I was to be discontent and unhappy at what the Dark Lord has done. Since he knows that I am the DADA teacher this year he will think that I had no choice but to tell him especially since we had to perform the Ceremony of the Captive Bride in the Circle. He can’t break it and if he can’t break it he can’t expect me to be able to ignore the bonds.” Lucius rubbed his chin

“Severus, you must do the talking and Draco act affronted that this has happened, we must keep up all appearance of who we are.” Taking his wand out he pointed at his young wife and changed her clothing back to those that she wore the night before. Turning the wand upon himself he changed to his best ‘High Wizard, how dare you speak to me’ clothing.

The others followed suit.

Snape walked to the fireplace, reached into the floo box and called out to the Headmaster.

To say that Professor Dumbledore was unhappy at the news was an understatement to say the least. When he realized just who and where Snape was flooing him from, he stepped through the floo to speak to all the people present.

Professor McGonagal was but a half step behind him. Wearing her robe over her nightclothes. Her braided graying hair tumbled behind her as she rushed to check on Hermione herself not trusting any man to truly know all the facts. Finding Hermione well just asleep to the world, Prof. McGonagal returned her attention to the room around her. She caught Lucius Malfoy watching her every move intently out of the corner of his eye. One would almost think that he was afraid she would grab Miss Granger and run. Young Malfoy was listening to the arguing Snape, who was trying to explain all that had happen the past night.

“I demand an explanation. Why didn’t you know that this was going to happen we should have been prepared to prevent this.”

“Sir, no one, I repeat, no one knew that this was going to happen. We were all summoned and He had her there before us, covered on the ground at his feet. I don’t know who took her, just there she was. He told all of us that we, or our sons will all contribute to the plan. He is breeding us like cattle now. ‘Wants to make us stronger,’ all I know is that of all of us he gave her to Malfoy then insisted that the marriage ceremony be preformed immediately. I came to witness because of my standing at the school. Dumbledore, the Dark Lord is expecting Granger to be pregnant by Christmas. Christmas! Did you hear me He wants Malfoy to have the first child, at least the others get a year with their brides.” Snape spoke quickly, standing rigidly in place and he looked the Headmaster in the eye.

“What do you mean by saying that Miss Granger is pregnant. She can’t be pregnant. She only been gone 18 hours? Oh hush Mr. Malfoy at least you father isn’t trying to interrupt the conversation.” McGonagal interrupted.

“Oh the shame! A mudblood, in our family. You know what this means? I can never show my face in Slitherin again. My step-mother to boot!” Draco collapsed dramatically into a wing-backed chair, covering his eyes with his hand.

Dumbledore narrowed his eye at the young man as he noticed the boy peeking through his fingers. Widen eyes met his gaze and the fingers snapped together.

“So if I am to understand you correctly Severus. Miss Hermione is married. Married to the elder Mr. Malfoy as of last night. You witnessed it. A binding ceremony was preformed.”

“The Ceremony of the Captive Bride.” Snape injected.

“The Captive Bride? Then that explains why she is asleep instead of telling us all what is expected from us.”

Lucius smirked at that last comment. ‘If they only knew.’

“Miss Granger must be,” cough,” in the ‘family way’ by Christmas. This is very serious indeed. I can see why you are so concern, Mr. Malfoy. You being the new Teacher of the DADA this year.” Dumbledore stroked his beard as he turned to look at the Malfoy in question.

The Malfoy in question raised his brow in return. “Just imagine my end of this disaster. Dumbledore.” Lucius spoke from his spot behind his grand desk.

“We can’t just have teachers marrying students and students getting pregnant by their teacher, Albus. What will the school board say. The Parents! What can we do?” McGonagal uttered from behind her hand.

“Don’t forget we need a reason why Miss Granger must share my quarters in the first place. A man of my means wouldn’t just take up with any old person, especially someone who is, muggle-born.” Lucius spoke.

“Oh no Miss Granger’s parents. The Boys! How will they take this?” Prof. McGonagal took a steady breath. Smoothed her hands down the front of her robe. “Well what is done is done. Are you sure there is no way out Albus?”

“Quite sure, Minerva. We are backed into a corner when it comes to this marriage. Hmm.” Dumbledore walked to the window and opened the curtain.

“For the moment I do believe that we have a few days before we have to make an announcement. I believe that Miss Granger has become too ill to attend her classes at this time. That should give us a week?” Dumbldore turned to look at Lucius who held up two fingers. Narrowing his eyes at the fingers “Two weeks. Minerva if you will. Get young Hermione’s homework gathered for her so that when she awakes she will be able to catch up with her classmates. That shouldn’t be a hard task. I’m sure she will have a bit of time to work on it.” He said slyly.

Lucius narrowed his eyes. “I’m sure she will.”