Billybob-Csagun36remake of: Swords and Sorcery & strange Traditions
Originally done by: Darth Gojira - - . ID# 4358919
Primary pairing: Cho C. & Neville L.
Rated T – last updated: 09-19-2008
Orginal chapter count# 12 - - word count total: 15,381
Original story can still be viewed on: w*w*w*
OoOoOoOo
Billybob-Csagun36, Id# 12892153 … rewrite - - fist undertaken on 04-26-18
Alternate Universe (AU) Does not follow established cannon.
Remake -title: The rule of 'Morgianna of Abington'
Rated M – just to be safe
Number of chapters # 17 … word count # a-lot
*Permission to rewrite is pending
*permission granted
Message: 05/02/2018 at 9:55 AM -Eastern Standard Time
from: Darth Gojira
"Odd request, but I suppose so. You can use a similar plot device if you wish as the basis of your story. Just please don't plagiarize. Thank you for asking".
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*Plagiarism a definition: the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own by not crediting the original author.
*How much changed must another's author's story be, even with the above authorization, to avoid any charge of plagiarism?
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*So I give full credit and Praise to_ Darth Gojira _for his original tale, which I shall use as the foundation to my twisted rewrite. I am sure that if Darth reads this, he'll find both familiar bits (he thought up) as well as my unexpected plot twists. - - As the original can still be found at , I invite my few readers (yes … I'm talking to you!) to compare my distortion to the work that inspired me.
My goal is to flesh out the original and change it (dramatically) to fit the more adult orientated, Billybob 'multiverse' (multiple universe theory) of a parallel universe to that of JK Rowling's. I will be showing different personality characteristics of the JKR characters, not found in cannon. Which is naturally the core of (AU) - alternative universe, as it applies to HP fan-fiction
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I'm a huge fan of Ron (just saying) with Neville being a close second in favorite characters. In this tale, I venture into the emotional mess that happens to a wizard, after a 'somewhat' amicable (civilized) break-up of a one-sided (unrequited) love affair. Normally when a HP fan-fiction authors breaks up Granger and Weasley, the blame falls *exclusively* on the red head (cheating/abuse). I cannot describe how angry this vilification of Ron makes me. So be warned: this is NOT an rbw/HJG romantic ship.
Instead; 'the bulk of this story' revolves around a 'budding to fully bloom' cross-house relationship between a Gryffindor and a Ravenclaw. So what happens to Ron, Harry, Luna and Ginny are for the most part… subplots.
Traditional Disclaimer: I'm not the author of the Happy Potter books, and the only profit I seek is the amusement of my few internet readers. JKR owns everything else.
I am also admittedly- not -even a remotely trained writer; I have even been asked if English is a second language for me. There will be grammar and writing format errors in this 'tale' that will turn many a stomach. Honestly-people there is only so much spell check can do. I consider myself an unskilled… story teller, who shouldn't be allowed to publish without a qualified editor.
Basically - -I write the way I speak, as if I was reading out-loud a stage play – while auditioning for a role. By this I mean - inserting pauses in dialog for emphasis. It's not proper written English, I know, - - but it is a-lot better English than what is seen today, in 'text messages – or on – Facebook'
ONCE AGAIN: _This tale is in prefect compliance with 'some of' the crazy notions that I have put forward in my other stories… meaning it is accommodating to the Billybob Hp alternate multi-verse cannon (AU)
Proceed at your own risk
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Harry Potter, even when he was 'full bore' smitten; during fourth year, had never expected to be sitting in the dining room of Cho Chang's house some five years after the war. He had been hoping that after Cho had graduated, he would simply never see her again_ and Ginny had every intention of keeping it that way. - Still, when Luna Lovegood had sent owls to her old 'friends' from Hogwarts … describing - "a rather sticky situation". - Harry; who still suffered from a 'martyr complex' as in, being the big 'saving hero'; still felt obliged to help out.
"So, who else is expected?" Harry asked, as he shifted in his rather ornate seat.
Luna looked up from her tea. "I also wrote to Hermione and Ron; spoke personally to Neville, about this problem. I have high hopes that they too will come to Cho's aid".
"Can't we get on with it, the others are already very late", Harry said while giving Ginny a nervous glance.
"I'd rather wait for everyone to be here before I explain things," Cho said in a nervous interruption, pausing from gnawing her lower lip to explain. She tried to ignore Ginny's ill disguised signs of barely controlled impatience and obvious jealousy. - Harry had dated the attractive Asian at one time and that was always a major 'sore spot' with Ginny. Harry also, by this point in his life - knew all too well, that Ron wasn't the only Weasley that had 'extreme' jealousy issues. So he stroked his girlfriend's hand to reassure her as they waited for the others.
Five minutes later; Ron was the next to arrive, cursing to himself as he banged his head on the fireplace grate. Harry winced in sympathy, having run afoul of it when he had 'Flooed' in himself. As Ron gathered himself together, another puff of smoke announced Hermione's arrival.
"Watch-out for the…-" Ron began a warning, but a sharp cry from his fiancé cut him off. As he helped Hermione up from the floor, Harry and Ginny rose from their chairs to greet them.
"Hallo, Harry, Ginny." Ron said while looking towards the table, "Luna, Cho." Ron continued his greetings. Ron was dress as a proper shop clerk in Diagon Alley should be dressed (in a 1890's style) all in black except for a white dress shirt and light blue waistcoat, with Hermione like Harry still wearing their identical Ministry work robes.
Ron looked from his angry sister's face (dressed in her usual Holyhead Harpies jumper and jeans) and then back at Harry's worried expression with the clear suspicion, what this little visit to an old flame was going to cost his best-mate. - As to why he was here; Ron felt utterly clueless and with that thought in mind he turned his attention from Cho.
The former Ravenclaw was wearing the classic: Qipao: a body-hugging one-piece Chinese dress of Mandarin origin. The blood red silk material (considered lucky) was not only very flattering to Cho's figure, it also had tiny: black Chinese dragons embroidered upon the material. The overall affect all but screamed classical Chinese.
"I'm amused that I'm here for the same reason as you-lot are, in response to an urgent 'S.O.S.' note from Luna," Harry explained feebly.
Hermione sighed. "I hope this gathering concerns something of real importance, I have a report to finish concerning the ambassadorial incident of this morning." She said with her normal 'put-upon' huff as she and Ron made their way over to the table where the others now sat.
"Hallo Ron, hallo Hermione," Luna smiled at them and the girl was dressed as she usually was, in a wild assortment of tie-dyed colored 'something' that a 1960's flower-child would feel totally comfortable wearing. "I got your invitation to your_ 'third try' _at an engagement party and I'd like to take this opportunity to inform you that I will be attending, as will my plus one. I can't wait for you to meet Rolf, he is so dreamy." Seated next to Luna an anxious looking Cho gave Harry a timid nod which in response caused Ginny to glare icily at the Asian.
For a while, they just sat there in silence. The guests were feeling awkward and the hostess was biting her lower lip and tapping lightly on the blue porcelain tea-cup in front of her. There was another puff of floo powder. They turned, expecting Neville to complete the group.
Instead, they saw a thin, well-dressed Asian man in black business robes stride out of the fireplace, dodging the grate with practiced ease. "Cho?" he called out as he took in the room. His resulting double-take at seeing the guests would have been funny if not for the deadly seriousness of the situation. "Are these friends of yours, Cho?" He looked puzzled as he studied the guests.
"Yes, honorable father; my housemate Luna, owled them to see if they could help me", Cho said with her thick Scottish accent; in sharp contrast with her father's cultured Cantonese accent and mannerism.
"I sincerely hope they can, provided it's within the rules." His expression softened.
He walked over to the table, Harry and the rest standing up in reaction. "Luna Lovegood."
"Yes sir", Luna replied in her customary dreamy fashion
"Hermione Granger."
"Ron Weasley."
"Ginny Weasley."
"Harry Potter."
"Welcome to my humble home, I'm Sen Chang, Cho's father," he replied in turn. He moved forward to shake hands, stopping first at Harry. "So, these are the heroes of our civil war, eh? I've heard so much about you, Mr. Potter … may I call you Harry", a very promising Auror they tell me, next in line to be chief Auror _ and I know equally well from my daughters Quidditch Magazines (of course) the 'first string' chaser of the Harpies, as my number one daughter is a huge fan. You're 7 and 0 this season, are you not?"
"Yup" Ginny said beaming at the older man.
As for your brother Mr. Weasley, I know of him from his elder brother's joke shop, fine line of products you have there, please express my respects to your employer/master" Mr. Chang said as he peered down his nose at the common tradesman now standing before him.
"Yes sir, it will be my pleasure." Ron replied not at all offended, the customer is always right even when they are rude. Ron even gave Mr. Chang a slight and very traditional Chinese bow, which took the elder by surprise.
"Miss Granger; of the Ministry, always a pleasure and Luna Lovegood a Ravenclaw house mate, I've been meaning to ask, what is it that you do now?"
"I seek out the bizarre and the unusual", Luna said in her dreamy style of speaking
There was another awkward pause, as Mr. Chang tried to interpret Luna's answer. He then turned to Cho. "Your most honorable mother won't be here until seven. Have you been treating our guests well?"
Cho blushed, embarrassed. "Yes honorable father, I have already prepared the tea, I just need additional cups, if you'll excuse me", Cho said quietly, as she got up from her chair and walked out.
"Cho's told me quite a lot about you, Harry. Apparently, aside from killing – well, 'you know who' – you were quite good at Quidditch in your own right. She used to talk about you all the time," Mr. Chang continued as he took a seat. "Not so much in the past few years, though."
"Life got in the way, we don't run in the same circles anymore" Harry offered lamely, while giving his irritated girlfriend another worried glance.
"So, has she told you about our situation?" Sen asked as his expression turned sour.
"Not yet." Ron shook his head as Luna piped in, "She's waiting for everyone to show up. We've got one more visitor expected."
"Oh, and who is that?" Sen asked politely
"Neville Longbottom, Sir" - Ron replied in the proper form
"I've heard of him. Partnered in a commercial Greenhouse I understand … made a great success of it I'm told. There was an entire article in the business section in the Daily Prophet, the same place I've read of the rest of you" Mr. Chang rambled on. "You've all been in wand combat, I assume. I was worried about my daughter, fighting in the war. I hope she conducted her-self with honor."
Harry could somewhat remember Cho attending the last Hogwarts battle, and found him-self speechless at Mr. Chang's obvious disapproval. –
Thankfully Luna came to the rescue again. "She was a major part of the resistance at Hogwarts, until she graduated in 1997. And everyone in the DA was grateful that she returned for the last battle. Yes … Mr. Chang, your daughter brought great honor to the house of Chang."
Harry could tell that the nervous looking Mr. Chang didn't quite know how to respond to any of Luna's unexpected outbursts, but before Sen could think of a reply there was a big flash of green from the floo illuminating in the living room. Neville didn't escape the grate either for he was now even taller than Ron. Hermione got up to help him get upright as he massaged his aching head. "Hallo Hermione. Is everybody here?"
Ron nodded and said: "Yup"
Hermione added, "And now that everyone is here … 'at last'. Can we get on with this please, as I do have more important things to attend to?" Sen Chang was naturally offended by Hermione's arrogant comment, but for manners sake he overlooked it. As they walked back to the table, at that point Cho returned from the kitchen and instantly smiled, "Oh, hallo Neville. I was beginning to think you weren't coming."
"Hello Cho. I was in the middle of crossbreeding a couple of plants … a delicate procedure when Luna 'Flooed' me. What's going on?"
Cho sighed as Neville and Mr. Chang introduced them-selves. "Now that everyone's here, I'd like to explain how this thing started. Look at this." From her pocket, she drew a wrinkled piece of parchment and passed it to Luna. "It's from Lucius Malfoy's barrister. Apparently he's invoking an old pureblood rule of law against the Chang family," she explained.
"The rule of 'Morgianna of Abington' to be precise," her father added.
"But I thought that whole thing was illegal!" Hermione exclaimed.
"What is it?" Harry asked, looking at her.
"It's a fifteenth-century rule of law that obliges anyone who: steals –loses – accidentally damages or destroys another family's holy artifact or item of extreme value. The offending party (the Chang family in this case) is therefore magically required to compensate or replace said item, with something of equal or greater value.
If the replacement cost cannot be agreed upon, (this failure to agree was often deliberate) the irreplaceable item is substituted by a forced marriage between the offended party and the family that caused the injury. This use to be a way that ancient pure-blood families 'got around' a repeated refusal for a more traditional arranged marriage proposal", Cho explained.
"But I thought this barbaric practice was outlawed by the Wizengamot in 1912." Hermione interjected.
"So did I, but it was reintroduced during the Thicknesse takeover of the Ministry a few years back," Sen grimaced. "As this particular rule of law has yet to be repealed (again), my number one daughter may now be obliged to marry Lucius Malfoy's only son."
Cho looked as if she was about to cry as that statement sank in. - Meanwhile Hermione looked thoughtful. "Isn't there some kind of loophole you can use?"
"I'm afraid I've tried everything in my power to find one" Mr. Chang replied. "I've consulted my families barristers as I only have the limited amount of old law books which you now see before you on the table, and my legal advisor was as shocked as I was, that this primitive rule is still in force", The patriarch's dark eyes watered. "My legal options are apparently very limited so if there's anything any of you can do…"
"I've been against these kinds of laws since the moment I heard of them. But a meek submission to this rule isn't your only option. We'll see what we can do." Hermione looked determined. - Ron knowing that anything bookish wasn't exactly his 'forte' gave his fiancée a "what-do-you-mean-'we'?" look, but reluctantly nodded in agreement when he saw Cho's desperate expression. Meanwhile Harry and Neville shared concerned looks. Why hadn't the world changed after the fall of Voldemort? - What had gone wrong?
Everyone pored over the obscure law books in front of them for the next two hours. How Hermione could manage to go through so many so quickly was incredible, and the fact that Neville was pathetically even trying, was even more nonsensical. Ron was clearly failing outright, struggling with all the 'legalese'; he was unable to read even the tiny print on the first page.
While Ginny's didn't even bother, her clear animosity toward Cho made Ron openly wonder why she was even here, until he remember that his little sister had an extremely popular (hero) boyfriend, who quite often had total strangers (girls) throw themselves at Harry like a bunch of rock band's groupies. Ginny therefore hated romantic *poachers* with a passion and she equally despised the romantic history that her boyfriend had with Cho … in fact: precisely because of beautiful women like Cho, was the primary reason behind Ginny keeping poor Harry on a very tight leash.
It had stunned Ron beyond description that his best-mate 'enjoyed so very much' being *dominated* by his sister. Ron shook his head, he shared a dorm room for six years and he had no I idea that Harry was a closet masochist. – Harry's repeated resistance to 'leading' anything should have been a major clue to his passive nature, as was his desire to be just an average bloke (normal). Hermione had been the one that had pushed the - 'D.A.'- with Harry having to be all but dragged into leading it.
Meanwhile … even growing up with six brothers, Ginny had always shown the spunk required to stand up to all her brothers, so ending-up with a 'strong-willed' sister was understandable. As fate would have it: Ron wasn't the only one in his family that worried about his headstrong sister's violent reaction to the average blokes 'chatting-up' line of bullocks, towards (her).
Trying to be the alpha male by using dominating; 'chat-up lines' on Gin-gin was a quick way to end up in hospital. – When trying to be polite in her refusal didn't work … BAM! - Ron had read some newspaper articles about his sister off the pitch and she was considered to be dangerously unapproachable. Oddly enough her obvious distain for suitors caused some macho tom-cats to try even harder… (The fools)
Ron's sister was also very territorial and highly possessive concerning all things that belonged to her (like Harry). Gin-gin reputation concerning chat-up lines normally went into full meltdown mode whenever some pretty bird 'tried' to chat-up Harry. Some of her rage was directed at the poacher (naturally) but two-thirds was directed at her property (Harry) and oddly enough Ron's dorm-mated 'reveled' on Gin-gin's verbal and physical abuse.
After growing up being abused by the Dursley's, perhaps this was understandable in Harry's case_ and even Ron acknowledged that after the war most of the children/warriors who had survived the last battle were somewhat 'messed-up' in the head. - Ginny reaction to death and war was clearly 'copying' to a frightening degree, their mother's harsh dominance of their dad. - From the looks of things tonight; it was Ginny who wore the trousers in her relationship and poor Harry (surprisingly) seemed to love it.
Hermione the workaholic (sad) meanwhile was already making a list of possibilities. Harry took comfort in Hermione's industry as he gave up with the book he was failing to interpret. Counter-law, personal combat, trial by jury, compensation (Nothing here that could help Cho). So Harry instead activated his skill set as a relatively new Auror, thinking like a detective, he asked out-loud: "What do you think is Malfoy's end-game in this?"
"Did Mr. Chang explain what led to all this?" Hermione asked - -
"No, he didn't say a word about it," Ginny answered suddenly suspicious. "As the Malfoy's can't insist on a wedding to a witch that's already married, couldn't Cho just marry her current boyfriend?"
"I no longer have one, I was dating a Muggle for quite awhile, but when he found out that magic was real and that I was a witch, he quickly … bolted", Cho said with her deep disappointment clearly apparent.
"So you're single", Ginny growled out, like a lioness protecting a kill.
"That means no quick fix; it is equally obvious to me, that we are clearly missing something … important." Ron chimed in, desperate to avoid a cat fight in the Chang lounge.
"You've got that in one; the Malfoy's must have an ulterior motive for this – that we don't see", Harry agreed. "I honestly can't see Draco pushing this wedding as he hates Cho because she was a better seeker than he was at Hogwarts and she's smarter than he is to boot. - Money can't be the motive either. I looked into the Chang family finances before I came over and from what I can tell - Mr. Chang's import business and curiosity shop doesn't pull in enough Dosh to trickle the Malfoy 'greed reflex'."
"So if gold isn't the motive then this has to have a huge political payoff, otherwise this whole thing makes no sense", Hermione interjected.
"Political payoff ", Neville asked somewhat mystified?
"Old Lucius wants something that he can only gain through marriage to his only son. Risking his bloodline's future would only happen for something ruddy important", Harry interjected thoughtfully. "Even with Cho being 'admittedly' still super hot"… and for that comment he was smacked hard in the arm by Ginny.
"What … you don't want me to lie; do you; honey? _ I'm just stating facts here" Harry said to his clearly furious girlfriend, while rubbing his upper arm.
"Okay then … Cho has the fox factor in her favor, but even Hermione will admit that the Malfoy's wouldn't go to all this trouble, for a really fine arse breeder", Ron interjected.
"Assuming that Harry's correct and the Chang combined wealth isn't the issue, then is it remotely possible that the ferret family wants' something of great value that the Chang's don't even know they have", Neville though out-loud, more than half-expecting to have his thought called stupid by Hermione.
"I agree; this has got to be a gambit to force a particular reaction," Ron said
"A way to oblige the Chang's to do … what exactly?" Harry frowned in concentration. "Hermione, let's see that list of options."
Hermione passed the paper to him, but Ginny grabbed it out of his hand.
"Let's see." Ginny read: "Compensation. What kind of compensation are we talking about?"
"The original 1564 version says money or an item of an equal value to the object lost," Luna read.
"The 1742 revision added: 'services of a personal nature' - could that translate to possibly involving the services of a house-elf?"- Neville added clearly unsure if any 'House-elf services' were involved.
Hermione looked up. "The 1876 version mentions: services necessary for the continuation of the injured party's bloodline".
"Okay, from the Auror departments point of view Hermione's version makes the most sense because a discredited and nearly bankrupt Malfoy family have only one son and Draco prospects of hooking up with a super rich wife are less than zero since the end of our civil war. The other Pure-blood's who are still looking over their shoulder in fear of Ministry reprisals against known supporters of Voldemort are therefore very unlikely to want any kind of blood ties though marriage to one of Voldemort's former top lieutenants"
"I disagree", Neville replied. "The way I see it, being on the losing end of the war, Malfoy senior would desperately need some gold to pay off the bills from his high-priced legal defense at his trial. That Lucius was not directly tied to any outright atrocity not only saved him from execution, it's also the only reason he is still walking free. But he lost almost everything buying his freedom (a second time), so he could definitely use any kind of gold windfall (no matter how small) that marriage would provide. As Cho is not only the sole heir to the entire Chang estate, with her inheritance being a-lot more 'lucrative' than the socially redeeming value of a marriage to a war hero".
"I wasn't all that big a hero, not compared to Granger here, and they aren't trying to pull this bullocks on her. Money, that thought is ridiculous? - - And Harry… I don't think they want me as a breeder either. The Malfoy's make no bones about the fact that they regard marriage to an Asian the equivalent in disgrace for Draco, as a marriage to a Mudblood like Ms. Granger … " Cho began only to be talked over by another speaker.
"I'll concede that Draco most likely hates Asians because they aren't of pure British heritage. But then why the sudden desire for a wife for Draco in the next couple of months? - The ferret has a substantial trust fund, but he can't touch it until he turns twenty-four (two years) while Narcissa has her share of the Black family fortune coming to her as a yearly stipend and although considerable; it would not be enough to maintain the Malfoy's current lifestyle. - It's only Lucius that is nearly destitute at the moment, but that's also only a short-term discomfort. - His barristers are really good and I heard they have had a few critical victories on the road to getting back at least 'half' of the Malfoy's assets that our government seized. In twelve months time the Malfoy's will be rolling in Dosh again. So why the rush … no, I'm convinced this isn't about money", Neville said.
"I disagree," Ron interjected, "You are thinking long term wealth - but Lucius just needs enough Dosh; to tide him over, until his legal team can get back his seized gold. My guess is that the Chang's have something of more value than they realize… something very rare and extremely valuable, that the Malfoy's can quickly convert into a huge pile of galleons."
"That would support Luna's version, wouldn't it Hermione?" Neville asked.
"You mean an item of equal value to the lost Malfoy fortune. That must be it. Ron was correct for once … amazing as that sounds", Harry said casually. His offhanded insult was accepted without comment.
"Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Mr. Chang must have something of supreme value in his shop or house. Something only the Malfoy's know about that would equal the value of at least a-part of what the Ministry seized". The Malfoy's must be blaming Cho's participation in the final battle as the 'sole cause' for the seizure of their wealth", Hermione said as she closed the old law book, apparently in a foul mood for she too was picking on Ron, criticizing him far more strongly than usual, as if she deliberately trying to provoke Ron into a heated public argument.
"Cho _does your curiosity shop or your family's private collection recently acquired, a magical item of priceless value?" Luna asked.
"No … I don't think so", Cho replied after a few minutes of thought.
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