Marriage Law

AN: Goyles father petitioned for Hermione, not Gregory
himself. He was annoyed at having something taken away from him that he
considered his only chance for marriage, even though it wasn’t what he wanted.
Young men tend to be prideful. He was relieved to get someone else. Parvati and
Padma were paired up with Gregory because their culture is more open to
arranged marriages and their parents agreed. (I doubt the girls got any say at
all.)

There is no actual refrence to the Patil parents at all. I
think that’s exceedingly strange from girls that descend from an area where
family is very important to have never mentioned them. Maybe the girls think
they have risen above their muggle roots?

Marriage Law Chapter 36

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dear Mr. Potter,

Our daughter,
Katherine Biggins, disappeared the summer of 1978. Enclosed is her picture.

Her mother and I know
she probably died long ago but were hoping you might be able to help us locate
her remains. It would mean a lot to her mother.

Sincerely,

Harold Biggins

“Another one,” Neville said in wonderment. The envelope
dangled in his hand as he read the letter.

“How many people went missing, Harry?” Ron asked, digging
through a pile of letters.

“In the last fifty years?” Harry asked. “I don’t know.”

“Fucking creepy,” Neville muttered under his breath as he
tucked the letter back into the envelope.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

hand seemed to be gripping his morning erection firmly. It was not his hand. He
opened his eyes to see a brown pair peering back at him.

“Can I help you?” he asked, trying to wake up and not kill
Hermione with morning breath.

“Maybe,” she said, her voice muffled by the covers.

Severus lay back and let his wife molest him. Life wasn’t so
bad.

“Severus I-,” a deep voice said.

Severus jumped. He heard Hermione choke under the covers.

“I’m sorry,” Remus’ head said, laughing from the small
fireplace in Severus’ quarters.

o:p> 

“Morning, Remus,” Hermione choked out under the covers.

“I’ll come back later,” Remus chuckled.

“Don’t bother,” said Hermione, her bushy head emerging from
under the covers. Thankfully, she was still in her pajamas. “I was just
leaving.”

Hermione snickered at Severus’ expression as she scampered
from the room. Severus yanked up his pajama bottoms and straighted himself out
under the covers as she shut the door behind her.

“Must be nice, having a young wife,” said Remus wistfully.

“Exhausting at times,” said Severus. “What did you need?”

“Arthur wants some help from within the Order,” said Remus.
“Found quite a few potions in the raids and he’s not sure about some of them.”

“One can only imagine,” Severus groaned.

“You are the best, Severus,” said Remus.

“I’m sure,” Severus said bitterly.

“The Ministry is willing to pay you for your contributions,”
said Remus slowly, gauging Severus’ reaction.

“The Ministry is paying former Deatheaters for assistance
these days?” Severus asked, an eyebrow raised.

“A few new laws have made their way through,” said Remus,
smiling slightly.

“Imagine that,” said Severus dryly. Remus tried to look
innocent.

“Arthur’s doing the best he can,” Remus said. “And we’re
still not sure who we can trust.”

“Do you not have access to Potter?” Severus said, climbing
out of bed.

“Of course,” said Remus. “But that still doesn’t help us
much.”

“He can identify every Deatheater there ever was,” said
Severus stalking to his coat rack and retrieving his fluffy yellow robe. Remus
raised an eyebrow. Severus ignored him. It was too early in the morning.

“But he doesn’t have the sense to stay away from people like
Rita Skeeter,” Remus remarked, still smiling at the robe. “You know, yellow
looks good on you.”

“It was from my mother,” said Severus stiffly. “Quite right
about Potter. The Dark Lords memory with no wisdom. Pray for the world.”

Suddenly Molly Weasleys head popped into existence near
Remus’.

“Oh, what a lovely color,” Molly exclaimed. Severus groaned
inwardly. His reputation was ruined. At least she hadn’t shown up with Remus.
He’d probably still be hearing her screech at him.

“Hello, Molly,” said Severus. She had been unpleasant to
him, but if he picked a fight with her the rebuttal from Hermione might be too
much to take.

“I wante tel tell you,” she started nervously. Severus was
reminded of all the Weasley boys when caught doing something wrong. He found
himself feeling nervous. What had the woman done? What was she capable of? “I
hear Hermione is very happy. Thank you.”

Severus was stunned. His mouth moved but no words came out.
Molly disappeared from sight.

“Should I owl the Daily Prophet?” Remus asked, smiling his
slight crooked smile. “You in yellow and Molly getting near to an apology, must
be a polyjuice gang running about.”

“Very funny,” Severus said annoyed. The day had started out
so well. “Tell Arthur I have some time in the afternoon.”

“Very well,” said Remus. “Report to the Department of
Mysteries.”

“Can I bring Hermione?” Severus asked quickly. Remus looked
quizzically at him. “She’s a valuable assistant. Reads like a maniac.”

“Ah,” said Remus. “Why not? She would probably find it very
informative. I’ll memo for another badge.”

“Thank you,” said Severus. With a small pop Severus’ fire
faded from green to orange and died as Remus disappeared.

Perhaps today would turn out to be interesting after all.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Where are we going?” Hermione asked as she reached for her
pumpkin juice.

“The Department of Mysteries,” said Severus innocently.

&n

Hermiones eyes narrowed. He reached for a plate of eggs.

“Really?” she asked flatly.

“They have the best equipment,” said Severus filling his
plate.

“I’m sure they do,” said Hermione taking the plate from him
and getting a serving for herself.

“I need you, Hermione,” said Severus. She started slightly.
“You’re competent.”

It was the nicest compliment he had ever given her.

She blushed and brushed his knee under the table. Severus
frantically tried to remember whether the tablecloth hung down low enough or if
his wife had just done that in full view of all the students. Even if it
didn’t, no one seemed to notice.

“I’ll pencil you in,” she said, smiling at him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Here are your badges,” said an auror, smiling as he handed
Severus and Hermione their wands and badges.

Hermione took a look at hers and began snickering. Severus
looked over her shoulder to see: Hermione
Snape underneath it in smaller letters it said: Know-It-All.

“Well, it’s obvious the Weasleys are in charge,” said
Severus, sniffing.

Severus chanced a glance at his own badge. It clearly
stated: Severus Snape: Potions Master.
He was relieved.

The Ministry had been reconstructed almost identically to
the way it was before, with the exception of the fountain. The centaur and the
elf now stood beside the wizards, their arms raised. No wands lay in their
hands, but the statues were fitted for alteration.

Hermione and Severus were directed to the Department of
Mysteries and headed to an elevator.

Arthur met them on their floor and walked with them along a
long winding corridor.

“We weren’t really sure who else to ask,” said Arthur,
rubbing a small bald patch on the back of his head. “We aren’t even sure if
they’re all potions.”

Severus stiffened. “I would hope we have Ministry equipment
at our disposal.”

“Of course,” said Arthur. “All the toys you could want.”

This might not be so bad after all.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“They’ll grow back, Hermione,” Severus said in their
receiving room. He was trying desperately not to laugh. He was pouring her a
weak rum and coke, thankfully with his back to her.

Hermione felt the bare ridge above her eyes. She was lucky
her face was intact.

She had unstoppered the small bottle and a white blaze had
exploded out of it. The dragon hide suit had protected her from the blaze, but
her faceplate had cracked. Thankfully, the only casualty was her eyebrows.

Severus had been near to hysterical when they had lifted her
unconscious form from the floor. After her injuries were deemed superficial, he
began to see the humor in her appearance.

“Maybe Poppy has something that will speed it up,” said
Hermione.

“Perhaps,” said Severus handing her a tumbler. He
entertained a thought about Hermione sporting bushy eyebrows and smirked.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ginny sat behind her drawn curtains and looked at her ice rose
by the light of her wand.

“Oh, Harry,” she said softly, reaching out to touch a petal.

To her amazement, the flower bloomed. In the center a
transparent image of Harry smiled and blew a kiss at her. Then the bud
tightened to its original state.

Ginny frowned. What was that? It was wonderful of course,
but whad had triggered the effect?

She touched the petals. It stayed firm. She even tried to
wiggle a petal open, but it wouldn’t budge. She tapped it with her wand.
Nothing.

“Bugger, Harry,” Ginny muttered frustrated. The flower
bloomed and he made a face at her. She started. It closed.

She seriously doubted he was directly connected to the rose
itself, but it probably had expressive properties, like a picture. Her first
statement had been favorable, so he had blown her a kiss. When she had cursed
him it had made a face at her. Curious.

“I love you, Harry Potter,” said Ginny softly. She was glad
she had put a silencing charm around her so she didn’t wake her dorm mates.
They would think she was loony. The flower bloomed and Harry blew her another
kiss. Well, this was interesting.

“I want to quit school and join the circus, Harry,” said
Ginny. The flower bloomed and Harry made a horrified expression at her. It
looked very strange with his serpentine eyes.

So she could gauge his opinion this way. Strange. She
wondered if this was his intention. She would have to owl him tomorrow.

Either way, it was a lovely present.