Disclaimer: Rowling presented seven years of a school which was supposed to have existed for centuries. Hogwarts 1835 had little from canon besides location. Hogwarts 1940 could serve as a prequel to the novels. This sequel to 1835 has little from canon but a few family names and a location or two, but those are from Rowling's books. Similarities to any person, living are dead, with the characters in this story is an amazing coincidence and/or happy accident.

My parameters for what constitutes canon are defined at the end of chapter one.

Chapter 2 – King John

Vivien was surprised with how quickly she received her first note from Elizabeth, and somewhat disappointed it felt so thin. Opening the letter revealed the reason for its quick dispatch and brevity.

Viv,
We crossed the Channel without incident.
I am writing this from Paris, but we won't
stay long before we continue on. Send any
letter to the home of Claudia Stolz, we will
be there for several days. If you love me,
please find a good charm, or potion, to help
a snoring problem. While I love Charles dearly
his nose promises to cost me a great deal of
sleep. If you can bring me any sort of relief
I am quite certain you will save my sanity.
Much love,
Lizzy

Vivien sent her reply and then began her own frantic preparations for a wardrobe capable of impressing the Malfoys. She was both anxious to be off and further her plans, while wishing she had more time to prepare. Despite her misgivings in regard to her daughter's plans Mrs Kestrel helped Vivien in her preparations for a month at Malfoy Manor.

Kitty and Vivien arrived at the Gray country home the night before their travel to Malfoy Hall. Vivien felt a sense of shock at how little in way of clothing Kitty was bringing for a one month stay that was only equaled by the sense of shock Kitty felt when she saw how much Vivien had packed for the visit. They left early and arrived at their destination in the late afternoon.

Vivien wondered if their host should have come outside to help them down from the carriage – she had intended for Titus Malfoy see her hand Geoffrey the galleon as a way of showing her family wealth. She hoped whatever manservant it was who helped them with their luggage would see it and report to his master. Kitty wondered where Vivien had obtained a galleon, but said nothing aloud. Vivien could not be certain the tall and stolid manservant even witnessed the transaction.

The servant showed them to their rooms and offered apologies from his master for not being there to greet them on their arrival. Titus Malfoy was engaged in estate business and expected home at six. Dinner would be at seven-thirty. And Claudius, who should have welcomed them, could probably be found in the library. The servant did not say Claudius should have been greeted them, but Kitty felt it would have been appropriate.

It took Miss Kelly less than five minutes to put away the few articles of clothing she had brought. The Irish girl then went to the room next door and sat on the bed watching as Miss Kestrel carefully hung dresses in the wardrobe, applying charms to smooth out any wrinkles which had dared intrude on her clothing.

"We should find the stable," Kitty suggested. "Place like this probably keeps a number of horses. Bet he has hounds too."

"We should find the library. We need to see Claudius."

"Seems to me he's the one who needs to see us."

"Perhaps the servants didn't tell him of our arrival."

"Perhaps he didn't care. You go to the library, I'm going out back."

"We are guests. We don't go out to look at animals the moment we arrive."

It took them a few minute to find the library in the large house. Claudius sat in a wing chair, reading as they entered. To one side of the huge room a scarecrow of a young man sat at a library table stacked with books and appeared to be writing something in the limited space still available on the table.

Claudius looked up, "Ah. Gordon told me you'd arrived. I trust he showed you your rooms. I should have greeted you, but assumed he'd show you your rooms and you didn't need me to watch you unpack." He returned to his book. "That's Matthias back there. Works for my father. Dull chap."

Vivien tried to engage her intended husband in conversation, but while he answered her questions it was seldom with more than a monosyllable and he never took his eyes from what he was reading.

Kitty, growing bored, addressed the other man. "He said Matthias?"

"Yes. Matthias Prewett"

"Hufflepuff? Someone who looked a bit like you took first in history at Hogwarts our first or second year."

"I don't know when you entered Hogwarts, but I took firsts in history every year I was there."

"You do realize you've graduated, right? You don't have to keep writing papers," Kitty laughed, pointing at the piles of books and the parchment.

He pushed up the glasses which had slid down his thin nose, and they once again began the long, slow slide in their effort to escape his face. "Research. Mr. Malfoy and I are considering books on curses and a history of the dark arts. The library here is quite amazing."

"So, you're a guest too?"

Claudius did not look up from his book, "No, he's not."

"My status isn't clear," young Mr. Prewett admitted. "I was hired to catalog the books and magical objects here after leaving Hogwarts, but I'm more of a secretary now. And if Mr. Malfoy and I are to collaborate-"

"And ever since my father allowed him to dine with him Matthias has taken on airs and now considers himself a guest," Claudius threw in.

Mr. Prewett considered telling the ladies that Claudius was in a poor mood, having been ordered to stay at home and greet the guests on their arrival while his father managed estate business. It could, however, be seen as an accusation that Claudius had failed as a host – and even if that were true it would not be expedient for him to bring up the subject.

Claudius devoted his attention to his book. Kitty, anxious for any sort of conversation moved toward Mr. Prewett to quiz him about horses and hounds on the estate, and Vivien walked slowly around the room, marveling at the size of the collection and wondering how long it would be until she was mistress of the manor.

Titus Malfoy found them in the library when he arrived home, earlier than expected and full of apologies for having failed as a host.

The reaction of Kitty, on first seeing her host, mirrored the experience of Miss Kestrel and Miss Gray when they met Titus Malfoy at Hogwarts. She looked back and forth between them and thought they did not look like father and son. There was a strong similarity of features, the same chestnut hair and look of intelligence in their brown eyes. But Claudius, through habits of dissipation, weighed more than he ought and looked older than his eighteen years. Except for the sprinkling of gray hair at his temples the careful diet and regular exercise Titus Malfoy enjoyed resulted his appearing younger than his years. They were likely to be mistaken for brothers.

At seven Mr. Malfoy announced it was time to dress for dinner. Kitty wasn't sure what her host meant. They were already dressed. She couldn't imagine anyone going undressed to dinner. She washed her face and hands to rid herself from any dust from the road and brushed her hair for a few minutes before going into Vivien's room. "Is there a ball or something?" Kitty asked in wonder. "I thought we were just eating dinner."

"We are," Vivien assured her. "Help button me up in back. I'm too nervous to do the charm correctly."

"Then why are you dressed for a ball?" Kitty continued, moving behind Vivien to help with the buttons.

"I'm not dressed for a ball. I'm dressed for dinner. We're at a very fine home. People dress well for dinner. You need to dress."

"I am dressed."

"Those are the clothes you arrived in. You must change."

"These are the clothes I'll eat dinner in. I won't be changing clothes for every hour or every meal."

"You'll embarrass me," Vivien muttered.

If Kitty harbored suspicions of Vivien's motives they were confirmed by the comment. "So... Who are you trying to impress? We just met Mr. Prewett. Mr. Malfoy?"

Vivien chewed her lip nervously for a few seconds. She needed a confidant. "Claudius, of course."

"Claude? You think he's got any interest in you?"

"He needs to be married. Who would make a better Mrs. Malfoy?"

"A woman who actually cared for him... Not sure that makes sense. I can't see him giving a fig about any woman."

"Exactly. And I know that going into marriage. I'll give him his freedom and I will receive the security of being his wife."

"Neither of you could make the other happy."

"Security is the only happiness I need," Vivien argued.

If Kitty were under-dressed for dinner it went without comment. Vivien realized she was terribly over-dressed when the two entered the dining room. Their host said nothing out of politeness, but Claudius snickered, "I fear it's just family tonight, Viv. Did father neglect to mention the Archbishop of Canterbury wrote to say he couldn't make it?"

"Perhaps I should have asked a special meal be prepared," Titus Malfoy half-apologized as they began their meal. "But I thought it might be more appropriate, since you will be here for a few weeks, to see a normal dinner."

"This isn't a special meal?" Kitty asked in disbelief as she looked around her.

"I suspect Kitty regards any meal with a variety beyond potatoes as fine dining," Claudius mentioned to Mr. Prewett.

Titus glared at his son for his rudeness, and Kitty tried to kick him – but the width of the table prevented her from making contact. Claudius had expected the reaction, and watched for it. He gave her an amused smile when she failed.

Not knowing the rules of society Kitty asked her host about the large, wooden faced man who had met them at their arrival and now waited on them at dinner. "I think someone said his name was Gordon," she added at the end of the question.

"Gordon Sloper," Mr. Malfoy explained. "His sister works here as well. The Slopers have served the Malfoys for generations. In our position we have occasion muggle guests and... As I think about it, I may reflect some of my father's prejudices. For some reason he couldn't abide seeing a house elf in the dining room. He preferred not seeing them at all and avoided those parts of the house where he was most likely to find one. It would seem almost unnatural to me to see one serving here."

"Perhaps some whist after supper," Titus suggested to his son during the final course. "You may have Miss Kestrel as your partner."

"I'm going out," Claudius told him. "You said if I stayed home this afternoon I'd be free to leave this evening."

"I expected you to greet our guests and welcome them to our home."

"They aren't guests. They're old friends from school."

"They are guests in our home and must be shown every courtesy."

"Gordon didn't tell me when they arrived."

"Gordon didn't tell you? I find that very hard to believe – the man is too scrupulous in observing his duties." He turned to Mr. Prewett, "Tell me, Matthias, did Gordon inform my son when these young women arrived?"

The skinny man fidgeted, not wanting to upset the father, but not wanting to lie. "I… I was very engaged in my work. I could have… I wasn't always in the library, Gordon might… I don't know." Distinctly uncomfortable he turned to Kitty and tried to change the conversation, "Did you know that Mr. Malfoy is actually a baron?"

"No," Kitty answered, "really."

"I am not certain you need to relate my family history," Mr. Malfoy interjected.

"Oh let him ramble on," Claudius voted. "It delights him to hear his own voice, and even if you protest I know you have too much family pride to be denied hearing it told to others."

While Claudius hoped to anger the two men enough to avoid having to hear the story again Kitty and Vivien were too intrigued to leave the topic.

"Please," Kitty continued.

Matthias pushed up his glasses and began, "The family may have arrived with the Normans. The earliest reference I've found for the title, Marquis of Malfoy, dates to King John but could be earlier. Some claim the Marquis betrayed both John and the nobles before Runnymede. The title-"

"Family history," Mr. Malfoy interrupted, "has always preferred that he served as a negotiator between the sides and helped make the Charter possible."

"How does a marquis become a baron, and why isn't it more generally known?" Vivien wanted to know.

"The two facts may be related," Mr. Prewett suggested. "Some noble families were lost entirely during the War of the Roses when they didn't change sides quickly enough. The marquis of the time lost some of his land and was reduced to a baron. I suspect the loss of land and title are why the Malfoys make no mention of their title."

"Nonsense," Claudius argued. "It's a muggle title. I don't begrudge Sir William's knighthood. He helped all England – muggle and wizard – and deserves recognition. But baron is a muggle title handed down simply through accident of birth. Given the sorry blocks of wood holding most titles the 'honor' reflects nothing of intrinsic value. Father mentioned how prejudices are handed down in families like coats-of-arms and sets of silver. Some ancestor despised the muggle nature of the title and refused to let it be uttered in the house." He turned to Mr. Prewett, "There are Malfoys who would have had you horsewhipped for bringing up the subject. Father is much more tolerant. Sometimes he even takes his seat in Parliament during the winter, although I've never understood why. If he wanted to torture himself I'm certain we have some hair shirts in the collection down in the dungeon. They could be wonderfully painful without having the added of torture of listening to politicians ramble on."

"Torture collection?" Kitty asked nervously. "Dungeon?"

"Not used for generations," their host assured them. "My family has long been fascinated with the dark arts. We collect objects as well as books. Mr. Prewett began to catalog the contents of the dungeon for me, but had to give up. We weren't sure what some of the objects in the collection were. His hopes that, after working with the books in the library, he will be able to identify some of the more obscure items."

"I can show you the dungeon if you wish," Mr. Prewett offered in an excited tone.

"Matthias, you rogue," Claudius chuckled, "you are a charmer. What young woman could resist the invitation to go down to a damp dungeon and view instruments of torture and the dark arts?"

Mr. Prewett blushed crimson.

"Claudius," his father warned him sternly, "I do not allow guests to be insulted in my home."

"Is he a guest now? I find comfort in everyone knowing their place. I am unaccustomed to guests being paid. What wages are you offering Kitty and Viv?"

"Where are your manners? Miss Kestrel and Miss Kelly are your friends from Hogwarts. And you should have greeted them when they arrived today."

"No, they are your guests and you should have greeted them when they arrived today. Grandfather kept a reasonably good estate manager. Since mother died you've done more work about the place than your steward."

"A man should take an interest in his own property."

"A vast gulf yawns between interest and obsession. I see three possible motives for your behavior, none of which reflect favorably upon you."

Vivien and Mr. Prewett had the good sense to hope the matter dropped, but Kitty had too much curiosity.

"How can there be any bad motives for hard work?"

"He may think I'm lazy and hopes to set a good example for me, but watching him exhaust himself in unnecessary labors is hardly a good example. Or he might imagine I am incompetent and hopes to leave the property in a condition which will survive my mismanagement after his death. In either case, when I inherit I shall find a good steward and let him do the work he is paid for. The third choice is that he buries himself in work in honor of my mother's memory – which I hesitate to mention both because there would be nothing rational in such a motive and my mother does not approve."

"Does not approve? I thought your mother was dead."

"She is. I suppose I should say her portrait in the old nursery does not approve. Whichever one of you has designs on me might wish to consult her."

"Designs on you?" Kitty scoffed.

"Perhaps it is Viv then," Claudius suggested. "Or perhaps not in the minds of either of you and father asked you here to give me a choice."

"Your father loves you very much," Vivien told him. "He asked us here only as your friends from Slytherin."

Claudius clucked his tongue in disbelief, "You are many things, Viv, but I can't believe naïve is one of them." He turned to his father, "I respect the fact you do not lie. Can you tell me that there was no thought of matrimony in your mind when you invited Lizzy and Viv for a visit – or extended the invitation to Kitty here?"

The face of Titus Malfoy had darkened with anger. "This estate is your heritage, and there is work to be done here whether you appreciate the fact or not. You will now go to your room. You have insulted everyone at the table quite enough for this evening."

"I intend to go out. You promised me if I stayed in this afternoon I'd be free to leave this evening."

"I asked you to stay at home and greet our guests, which you failed to do."

"And I told you, I regard them as your guests – not our guests."

"And if you think you can sway my order with further impertinence you are mistaken. Go to your room."

Claudius remained seated for several seconds, looking like he wanted to speak, but no one uttered a word. Finally he rose silently from the table and stalked out of the dining room. Angry people do not always behave in their own best interests, but he recognized he was dependent on his father for funds and realized he had gone further than he should in voicing his displeasure.

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence around the table before Kitty thought of a safe topic and asked about the Malfoy stables. Titus Malfoy invited the two women to go riding in the morning. When Vivien confessed to being an indifferent rider, and she was being generous with herself to claim that level of ability, Mr. Malfoy suggested a brown cob known for its gentleness. They were warned that the man in charge of the horses was a muggle and, unlike the Slopers, had no idea that the Malfoys were a wizard family.

"I thought you owned an aethonon," Kitty responded.

"I did at one time. An aethonon is not a practical mount and when the old stable master retired I felt no loss at selling it. The new stable master is young and I am withholding judgment about his abilities for the present. Old Will had years of experience that Clarence lacks so I will see whether he grows into the job."

"Do you hunt?" Kitty wanted to know. "I believe Viv said you and your wife hunted. Do you keep hounds?"

"Eight at the moment. This Saturday we'll take some over to a muggle neighbor. The hunting season won't begin until autumn but the hounds and horses need exercise and we sometimes follow a fox until it goes to ground. You are both welcome to ride with us."

"My sympathies are with the fox," Kitty told him. "But if there is a good ride involved I'm game."

Mr. Malfoy chuckled, "I believe my sympathies are with the fox as well. I had one when I was at Hogwarts – a gentle and devoted creature. But one must maintain good relations with one's neighbors, even if they are muggles and love the hunt. Mrs. Malfoy always enjoyed the ride and the fresh air more than the kill."

"I would be delighted to accompany you," Vivien offered with no sense of what level of skill was required in terms of horsemanship. She wanted to make a favorable impression on the man she saw as her future father-in-law.

"We will probably eat something there after the hunt before we return. There will be a formal dinner here the following weekend... You have heard that some wizards and witches are suggesting that the guild be abandoned in favor of something they call a ministry of magic? I deal with enough muggle bureaucracy to recognize a bad idea. Some of us who oppose the idea meet on occasion to discuss how we can preserve the guild. It has served us well for centuries and I see no advantage in throwing it out. We typically hold a dance in the evening."

Dear Lizzy,
The Malfoys keep several owls. The home is
lovely – and when you return to England you
shall find me mistress of the estate. I will speak
with Claudius soon on the advantages of our
marriage, or perhaps I shall wait for Mr.
Malfoy to begin the conversation. It appears
he desires to settle the matter swiftly. He has
already invited many prominent witches and
wizards to a ball in two weeks. While he did
not admit his real motive for the ball –
saying it had something to do with guild
business – what better time would there be
to introduce his future daughter-in-law to
the cream of the wizarding community? You
will not believe how little clothing Kitty
brought. Or perhaps you would. I fear she is
quite wild. It was only with difficulty that I
restrained her from running off to the stable
before greeting our hosts. I hope her actions
do not reflect badly on me, but Mr. Malfoy
knows the original invitation was to you and
that she only came for the sake of propriety
so I trust everything will be fine. But, as I
shall say in every letter, I wish you were
here with me.
Love,
Viv

King John, like other monarchs of the High Middle Ages, sought to centralize power in himself. And, like other monarchs, found himself opposed by nobles who stood to lose power if the kings succeeded. English nobles threatened war if John didn't sign the Great Charter and, being outnumbered, John signed. In the sense it says no one, not even the king, is above the law the Magna Carta points toward modern government. In the sense the nobles had the power to force the king to sign the document it represents the decentralization of power of the medieval period.

The title of Marquis is pretty much the top of the noble pecking order, and Baron far down the list. I'm uncertain if one can actually be kicked down the noble list. Titles sometimes disappear. You were far more likely to lose your head than suffer a demotion. Even if you lost your head the title might remain – with the title, honors, (often the widow), and lands attached thereto transferred from the person who lost favor and head to someone the king liked. In my mind some king had to be pretty p****d with the Marquis of Malfoy to reduce him to Lord Malfoy, but had enough presence of mind to realize that trying to eliminate him was far more dangerous than the king would dare attempt.

When hunting foxes out-of-season the chase theoretically ended when the fox went to ground – i.e. entered its burrow. During the hunting season flushing it out and killing it was considered sport. While theory said a fox should be allowed to live if it gained its home at other times during the year the nicety was not always observed.