A Turn for the Better

Chapter 33 ~ Cecila Gottum (Short Chappie)

Since Hermione had a few days before she returned to Hogwarts, she decided she'd like to learn a bit about the author of "How to Acquire the Man You Most Desire," Cecila Gottum. Hermione wanted to know more about the woman who created such a wonderful, helpful workbook. Since the book was magic, it meant she was a witch, and the best place to find out about witches was the Ministry library.

So, Hermione wrapped up warmly and set out for the Ministry the very next day.

Hermione found the Ministry librarians weren't very helpful when she asked them if they had information about Cecila Gottum. The murmured responses in the negative and the way they avoided her eyes made Hermione rather suspicious. Normally, the librarians were more than helpful. Something was going on here.

Hermione set off on her own to try and find out something about Miss Gottum. She arrived at the library at ten in the morning. She didn't find even a snippet about Cecila until after four that evening.

After poring through an astounding amount of dusty, little-used reference books, Hermione finally found a small biography concerning Miss Gottum. It was in a book called, "The Big Book of Dissidents."

She was listed under "Wizards and Witches in Exile."

"What?" Hermione said to herself. "She's in exile? Why?"

Hermione quickly read the bio.

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Gottum, Cecila

Cecila Gottum is the infamous author of a dubious publication entitled: "How to Acquire the Man You Most Desire" a book of Manipulation Magic created to capture the hearts of unsuspecting men. Written while Miss Gottum was in exile for trigamy, the book has been banned in the wizarding world since its first inception, and heavy fines/punishments imposed upon anyone found with the book in their possession. However, several copies of this magically enhanced publication were still smuggled into wizarding society and utilized by unscrupulous women anxious to trick targeted men into relationships. It is believed all copies of this book have since been destroyed.

A former Slytherin of low-birth and born in Budleigh Babberton, Cecila Gottum was placed on trial for having three husbands at once. Her legal argument was that in the wizarding world, marriage was for life, and since she found herself in love with more than one man, she simply added them to the existing relationship. According to several sources, all involved were quite happy with the illicit arrangement.

The court attempted to have the witch's wand snapped, but it was found Miss Gottum did not use actual magic on the wizards she ensnared, but manipulation to win their hearts, so her wand was left intact. When she would not agree to stop collecting husbands, she was exiled from the wizarding world. In response and protest, she wrote her book.

Cecila Gottum remains unrepentant concerning her lifestyle and collection of wizards. She currently lives in an undisclosed location in England, with five husbands, six children and a dragon named GobSnout.

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Hermione blinked down at the page. Professor Snape had been correct. There was no way that book would have been in Flourish and Blotts, or any ordinary bookshop. As creepy as Cedric was, his store was a virtual treasure house for the book collector.

So, Cecila Gottum was a female polygamist who had a houseful of husbands. Well, that certainly flipped the script, didn't it? But it proved one thing . . . when it came to getting a man, Miss Gottum didn't just talk the talk, she walked the walk.

And her abilities had walked her right out of wizarding England.

The way the bio read told Hermione that more than likely that was the official "Ministry" version concerning "Miss" Gottum. It was clearly slanted against the witch, the first paragraph very judgmental and biased. Hermione had a feeling that the patriarchal system was quite shaken by Cecila collecting men like chattel, and more so, that the men were willing to be her chattel. If Cecila had been a man, she probably would have been congratulated, in a low-key manner of course. Then again, a man wouldn't have married his collection, he would have simply kept them. Cecila got commitments out of each and every one.

If every witch had Cecila's abilities, then the wizarding world would have definitely become matriarchal. Now, they couldn't have that, could they? So the secret of Cecila's success was gagged and bound for the sake of wizards everywhere.

It figured the author of such a book would be a Slytherin. The bio didn't give a date of birth, so Hermione had no idea how old Cecila was, but she did have six children and added two more husbands since being exiled, so she must be young enough to still raise a family.

Hermione colored as she imagined what Miss Gottum's sex life must be like with six husbands. Did she schedule intercourse, the witch having sex six nights a week, then resting on the seventh day like a deity? Or did she pick out one or two husbands when she got the urge? Were there ever times when they just had a free-for-all shagging session?

Hermione doubted it. It sounded completely exhausting.

She headed back to Muggle London intending on ogling her book again the moment she arrived home. Now that she knew its background and history, it seemed even more wonderful and exciting because she wasn't supposed to have it. Technically, she should turn it over to the Ministry so it could be destroyed.

Like that would ever happen. She'd chop off a limb first. But, the Gryffindor was going to have to be extremely careful about smuggling that book into Hogwarts.

If it were found in her possession in wizarding environs, she could get into a world of trouble.

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A/N: Just a short chappie about the book's author. It's such an interesting book, I thought a little more background would be interesting, as well as an explanation why it wasn't being used by everyone. Thanks for reading. ***