What A Malfoy Wants

A/N: I’m feeling rather accomplished today. I submitted my one hundred word drabble to the DMHG Drabble Challenge today. I wrote another chapter to my own prompt challenge today. And now I’m updating What A Malfoy Wants. All in one day. The bad news is after this chapter I have to write my one-shot entry to Breath-of-Twilight’s Halloween Countdown. Don’t worry, hopefully I’ll have it done in two weeks and then I’ll update this again. Anyway, just to let you all know, I am still on the hunt for a permanent beta. I would love to have someone proofread my work before I post. I’m only human and I can’t catch everything. I would also love to have someone I can bounce ideas off of. I write Harry Potter and Twilight fan fiction so far. I’ve been thinking about branching off and doing some Southern Vampire Mysteries as well. Not sure yet about that one. Alright, enough rambling. Here is the chapter everyone has been asking for. This is for all you Ron lovers out there.

What A Malfoy Wants

Chapter 7

Ron Weasley wasn’t the smartest man in the world. He knew he wasn’t. He had his own set of strengths and weaknesses. Looking back on it now, he should have known something was wrong when he received Hermione’s owl. She’d always made the effort despite her job to be at home on the holidays. They both did.

As a professional Quidditch player, he was gone from home a lot. It was what led her to become a professor at Hogwart’s. After the kids started school, she was home alone quite a bit. So she had applied and Minerva had given her the position of Potion’s Mistress. Every since Slughorn retired, she hadn’t been able to find a suitable replacement. Hermione filled his shoes rather nicely. But it meant that they saw each other less than ever. So they made the extreme effort to be home on the holidays so they could enjoy some good quality family time.

He was heavy with regret now. He didn’t bat an eyelash as he read her missive. Apparently, a relative of Flitwick’s was going downhill and he was called home to pay his final respects. McGonagall had asked Hermione to stay at school since they would be so short-staffed. She told him that Hugo would be staying with Newt Scamander and Rose would be staying with Alice Longbottom. They would floo to his parents house on Christmas morning.

Instead of moping, or owling her in return, he had packed his bags and gone ahead to see his parents. He had always been close to his folks and he was well aware that they were getting on in their age. He wanted to spend time with them while he still could.

In hindsight, he should have investigated a bit more. But it sounded exactly like something his wife would do. She wouldn’t have a problem staying at Hogwart’s so that Flitwick could go home.

He was rather surprised two days into his holiday at the Burrow when an official looking owl arrived for him from the ministry. He never received anything from them. Hermione did from time to time when they needed her expertise on something. But this envelope was addressed to him, not her.

He took it from the owl and fed it some bacon from his plate. It hooted once before flitting off in a flurry of feathers. He looked at it confusedly for a minute. It was from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. He opened it slowly wondering why in Merlin’s beard they would be sending him anything.

It wasn’t one but two separate parchments. He read through the first and his stomach felt like it dropped right out of his body.

Dear Mr. Weasley,

Draco Malfoy has formally claimed your wife as his veela mate and the mate of his son, Scorpius Malfoy. We’ve looked into the evidence he has provided, both by pensieve and through legilimancy. It is a proper claim and we have no choice other than to annul your marriage to Hermione Granger. Under his rights under the being division, we have no choice other than to allow him to claim your former spouse. We regret any discomfort this proceeding may cause you, but veela are endangered creatures protected under the law.

Just a reminder, veelas are not to be trifled with when it comes to their mates and it is ill-advised that you try to confront Mr. Malfoy on this matter. Have a Happy Christmas.

Sincerely,
Cuthbert Mockridge

Ron stared at the letter in open shock. His face was white and his hands shook as he paged to the second parchment. It was the official decree from the Wizengamot annulling his marriage to Hermione. His fist crumpled the parchments in his hand as he struggled to control himself.

“Ronald, dearie, what is the matter?” his mother asked, as she slid more eggs onto his still full plate. His father looked up from his paper. He couldn’t speak. He could only shake with mute rage. How DARE he!?

“Son…” his father started carefully. “Son, are you okay?”

Ron stood suddenly, shocking his mother as he knocked his chair over backwards. “NO, I’M NOT BLOODY WELL ALRIGHT!” he yelled. “THAT POINTY-FACED SON-OF-A-BITCH! THAT SLIMY, NO-GOOD, DEATH EATER BASTARD!”

“Ronald Weasley!” his mother scolded. “You watch that mouth and stop shouting at your father and I. We didn’t do anything to upset you. Now calm down and tell us what is wrong and who you’re talking about.”

He watched red-faced as his mother righted his chair and pulled him back to the table. He took one look at her and to his immense embarrassment he burst into tears. He loved her so much. What was he going to do without her?

He saw his father smooth out the parchments since he was incapable of speech. His mother twisted a tea towel in her hands as she watched the blood drain from his face.

“What is it Arthur?” she asked. “What’s going on?”

Arthur looked up. “Nothing good, Molly Wobbles. It seems that Draco Malfoy has exercised his rights as a veela to claim his mate. There isn’t anything we can do about it.”

Molly looked at him, still not comprehending. “Arthur, I don’t understand. Claim who?”

“Hermione,” Ron whispered hoarsely. “He’s claiming Hermione. Him and his son.”

“WHAT?” she thundered. “But Hermione is married to Ron. They have kids.”

“We’re not married anymore, Mum,” Ron mumbled. “They annulled our marriage. She isn’t even a Weasley anymore.”

“Arthur! They can’t do that, can they? How can he just march in after they’ve been married all these years and take her away? It isn’t right.”

Arthur looked up and sighed deeply. “I’m afraid he can, old girl. Under the new laws and protections for endangered magical beings, Draco Malfoy can do just about anything he wants.”

“What about the kids?” she shrilled. “Surely they have some consideration in this. They can’t just take away their mother.”

“Technically, they aren’t taking Hermione away from them. They are taking her away from Ron,” Arthur explained.

“Well, that doesn’t make it right!” she exclaimed. “Maybe if we go to the Ministry. Maybe we could petition.”

Ron rested his head on his arms on the table. He had the beginnings of a huge headache coming on. He almost burst into tears again thinking that he wouldn’t have his wife to bring him a headache potion any longer. He had taken her little gestures for granted all these years. It brought everything into sharp relief what he’d be missing.

He heard his father sigh again before answering. “Molly, I don’t think it would help matters any. Those laws are airtight. It would probably only make things worse.”

“Surely your status as war heroes means something. After all you did for the Wizarding World,” she postulated. “Maybe Harry could say something.”

“Molly…” Arthur cajoled.

“No,” Ron said suddenly. “Mum’s right. I think I will go see Harry. He works for the Ministry. Maybe he can give me some advice.”

Arthur nodded. “Okay, son. Just remember, we are here for you and the kids until we get all this straightened out.”

Ron stood up and then hugged his father. “Thanks, Dad. I really appreciate it.”

He left the kitchen, his appetite long forgotten. He would floo Harry and hopefully he would have a plan on how to get his wife out of the clutches of the Malfoys.

End Note: So, two updates in two weeks. I know this one is short, but I wanted to separate Harry’s reaction from Ron’s. As I stated earlier, I have another story that has to be done before October 1st. After I complete it, I will come back to this story. I plan on concentrating on this story until it is finished. Then I believe I will tackle Haunted next if you are following that one. So, what did you think of Ron? He’s definitely not one of my favorite ships with Hermione. I hope I did him justice. Also, one another note, I will be writing the sequel to The Moon Series: Full Moon next month and posting it around Halloween, so keep your eyes peeled. I also did a one-shot for the Dramione Couple’s Remix on Livejournal. The fest will start posting on the 16th of this month. There are some fabulous authors participating and I highly recommend that you read the entries if you love Dramione as I do. I will post my entry on this site once the fest is over. The entries are anonymous, so you’ll have to guess which one I did until I post it here. Okay, after that epic note, leave me some love. Tell me how great or not-so-great you thought this chapter was. I always appreciate your comments. Don’t forget to friend me on face book. I post updates, teasers, banners for my fics, and anything else fun I come across. CE Young if you’re looking for me. See you lovelies next time.