Chapter 4 - Romania

Three days later Arthur left work a bit early so that he could go home and help Molly. When he arrived, she was in a state as she tried to get the boys and the house ready and clean and keep them that way before the Tonkses arrived. He helped with some last cleanup and then went to put on his best robes and comb his hair.

At 5:20 Andromeda and Ted arrived and Ted immediately went out to the garden where Bill and Charlie were playing. Andi listened as Molly gave final instructions and then sent her and Arthur on their way.

The Weasleys trip to Romania began by apparating to a small wizard's pub outside Sheffield. The pub was owned by a Romanian wizard who had married a British witch. He kept one floo fire with an open connection to his homeland to allow for regular visits back home. For a small fee, he allowed others to use the connection as well. Arthur and Molly paid the ten sickles and began the long floo ride to Romania. They emerged a half hour later at an inn and found that Bogdan was waiting for them.

"Good evening Weasleys. Good promptness thank you. Come, lady does not wait for anyone." With that, Bogdan took them both by an arm and side-along-apparated them on the last leg of their journey. When they landed, Molly looked around in a bit of awe. They were standing on a plateau of a mountain and before them was a small castle that looked like something from a book. Bogdan immediately began pulling them up the path to the main entrance and, as they crossed the property line, a palpable field of warding assailed them. Molly paused at the feeling of powerful and strange magic, but Bogdan kept pulling them forward.

Bogdan reached the front door, but before he could knock the door was opened by a young woman. She was exquisitely beautiful and seemed to glow. Her hair appeared to be spun from white gold and an indefinable aura of comfort wafted from her. She stood back and gestured them in, but Arthur was unable to move. Finally Molly prodded him and he came to his senses as they entered the main hall of the castle.

Bogdan spoke up as they entered. "Here now, Miss Apolline will show way. My service complete so I leave. Floo at inn will be open when you need. Now, I need rest of fee."

Arthur nodded, handed Bogdan his additional twenty five galleons and then watched as he let himself out of the castle before turning back to the amazing young woman that stood before them.

Apolline smiled as she began to speak. "Welcome to my home. Mr. Dugheru has indicated that you need to meet with my mother. I don't know the details, but she has agreed to meet with you. I am a bit surprised, but my mother is often difficult to understand. Now, she is waiting in the sitting room, if you will please follow me."

Molly spoke up quickly. "Wait, um, Miss Apolline, you're not the veela?"

Apolline smiled, "Not exactly. I am half veela. My mother is the one who can tell you more." Then she turned and led them down a hall to the sitting room.

When Molly and Arthur entered, the creature who had arranged herself on a brocade settee seemed to suck the air out of their lungs. She must have been middle age if she was Apolline's mother, but she looked much the same age as her daughter. Her skin had the appearance of palest silk and her hair formed a halo of golden curls around her head. The entire room seemed to be lit by her presence, which seemed to fill every inch of the space. Before they could say hello, she smiled and welcomed them in.

"Good evening and welcome to my home. I am Demetra. Please take a seat. Would you like some wine?"

Molly and Arthur took the offered seats and both accepted a glass of wine. Molly took a sip and found her voice. "Good evening Demetra. Thank you for agreeing to meet with us. Your home is quite spectacular. I have never had a chance to visit Romania before."

Demetra smiled and Molly was taken aback by the effect it had on her. She had never been attracted to a woman, but she was suddenly finding herself enthralled at the beauty before her.

"You have not seen Romania before? It is a shame. My country is truly beautiful. I know you are not here for pleasure travel, but you must come sometime and really see my country. Now, Bogdan told me a bit of why you wished to meet, but I'd like to hear what you have to say."

Molly waited for a minute and looked over at Arthur to see if he was going to speak, but he just sat sipping his wine and staring at their host, so she began. "Demetra, my husband and I have been married for nine years. In that time we have been blessed with six boys, but no daughter. My husband's family has had no daughters born in seven generations, so we do not have much chance to produce a daughter on our own. After much research, we found a few references that indicated that a veela might be able to assist us in conceiving a daughter, but no details on how that is possible. This is what brings us to your beautiful home."

Demetra looked at Molly closely and Molly felt that she had never before received such a thorough examination, then Demetra spoke. "I understand your need and I do believe I can assist you, but first I would like to explain a bit of my history. I must ask for your oaths that what I tell you never leave these walls."

Molly looked at Demetra and placed her wand on the palm of her hand. "I hereby foreswear to never reveal what is discussed within these walls."

Demetra smiled and looked to Arthur, who was still a bit dazed. Molly poked him and Arthur came to and also swore his oath of silence.

Demetra continued. "I am one of an ancient race that traces our lineage to the beginning of time. When common men were first formed from the mists in the first days of the world, a spirit of that mist descended on some of the first people and that spirit used the ancient magic to meld with some of the newly formed humans. From this magic the veela were born. There were few of us in the beginning and still few of us today. We are creatures of powerful magic and many have sought alliance with us, for both good and ill. Some veela allied during the great wars of civilization and aided the men who sought them, but many others of us prefer to remain within our ancient homeland and be left to work our magic as we see need in the world. This is the world I was born into. By the tradition of my kind, I was raised apart from humans for the first fourteen years of my life. Then I was sent out to the human world to further my education before returning to my homeland to rejoin my sisters. Two years after I left these mountains to live amongst the human race, I captured the heart of a powerful wizard. I was not unused to the effect that I could have on common men, but this wizard I met was the first who I could not fully dominate. He had very powerful magic and used it turn my heart to him. I returned back to my mountains five years after departing and brought the wizard with me. My mother was appalled when she learned that I had formed a union with a human wizard and she cast me from my home. My husband stayed with me and built me this castle as a new home in which we could live together apart from most of the world. From here we worked together and wove our different magics into unique and powerful spells. A year after we arrived, I gave birth to Apolline. She is the product of my alliance and love for my husband, and as such she is half veela. You see, no pure veela may be born of a blood union with man and that is where the next part of my story may be able to assist you."

Molly looked a bit puzzled. "I guess I don't understand. How there can ever be any pure veela if any union with humans results in half-bloods?"

Demetra looked intently at Molly as she continued. "The way that a pure veela is created is for a veela to form a non-bonded union with a human male who is proven and betrothed to another. I have never sought such a union, as my husband was extremely possessive. Now, my husband has been passed for two years and I feel it is time that I fulfill the duty I owe my race and produce a pure veela that can be returned to the family of my sisters whom I left so long ago. This is why I agreed to meet with you. Bogdan was an associate of my husband's and when he came to me with your request to meet and desire for a daughter, I thought that I had found my solution and would also be able to assist you."

Molly took a moment to ponder everything that Demetra had said and then she began to realize what the veela meant. "Demetra, do you mean that you wish for Arthur to father a pure blood veela with you? I don't even see how that is possible."

Demetra looked at the witch in front her and saw a bit of jealous anger rise in her. "I understand that to you this seems quite strange, but let me explain a bit further. Your husband is proven, in that he has produced children already. This is the first key element that is needed. Second, he is betrothed and bonded to you. I will never be able to possess him, I will only be able to use him. This is the second element that is needed. The resulting offspring of our union will not truly be fathered by him, as the magic will leave no male trace in the child. This is the way of veela and this is the way our race must perpetuate itself if we are to continue. In exchange, I can guarantee you a female child of your own."

Molly was the one to be dazed beyond speech at this point, so Arthur came out of his fog and spoke. "Demetra, how can you guarantee us this?"

"Arthur, there is a rite that can be performed in conjunction with our union by which I can ensure you the daughter that you and Molly desire. The rite requires what you call a blue moon, that is the a second full moon within a single month. If we meet in union under the blue moon and then you immediately take your wife after me then my essence will carry into your union with her and will cause the child you conceive to be female. I am willing if both of you agree. There is a blue moon due in 42 days. If you agree, we will meet on that night and complete the rite, then you will leave and it will never be spoken of again. I know that this will seem strange to humans, so I ask that you consider carefully before agreeing. Molly must agree completely to give you to me for a single union. If she has any hesitation, it will break the spell and the union will remain fruitless."

Arthur sat back, rocked by what Demetra proposed. He looked over at Molly and she looked equally stunned.

Demetra stood up and looked down on them. "I am going to attend to some other business. I will give the both of you time to consider. Call for me when you are ready and I will hear and return." Then Demetra exited the room.

Molly took a couple of minutes before she spoke. "Arthur, what do you think? I mean the idea that we could be guaranteed a daughter is my deepest desire, but I had never imagined what it would require."

Arthur took her hands in his as he replied. "Neither did I Molly. Demetra is a beautiful creature and you saw the effect she had on me, but I have never been with anyone but you. I promised you in our vows to never take another woman to myself, but now if I wish to give you your deepest desire it seems the only way to do so is to break that vow. I just don't know what to do Molly."

Molly looked in her husband's eyes and saw his love. Would she be willing to give him to another, even if only for a night? They sat in quiet contemplation for another twenty minutes. Molly examined the idea closely and analyzed her feelings over what had been proposed, then she came to a decision and spoke. "Arthur, I know in our vows that you promised to never take another woman to yourself, but Demetra isn't a woman. You wouldn't be breaking the vow. It's not an easy idea to accept, but I think I am able. In exchange for a daughter, I am willing to agree to the veela's proposal. What do you think?"

Arthur looked at his wife and saw an acceptance in her eyes where before there had been confusion. The idea was mind-boggling, but if this is what was required to sire a daughter, then he would do as needed and replied, "I agree Molly."

With the agreement made between them, Molly kissed her husband and then called Demetra's name.

Demetra appeared within minutes and gave them a questioning look. Arthur took the lead as he addressed her. "Molly and I have discussed this Demetra and we are in agreement with your proposal."

Demetra smiled. "Very well, I will expect you back here at 9pm, 42 days from this evening. I will prepare what we need. Also, Molly, I would suggest that you ensure your cycle is in the proper interval by the time of the blue moon. I thank you both. This will allow us to each have what we desire."

Molly and Arthur stood and Demetra showed them out of the castle. Once they stepped outside the magical bounds of the property, they apparated to the inn and then floo'd back to Britain before apparating back to the Burrow. They arrived to find the house quiet with all the boys asleep upstairs. Andromeda and Ted were cuddled on a couch downstairs listening to the radio and smiled as their friends arrived back home. Molly and Arthur thanked them profusely and Molly insisted that Andromeda take home a cake she had prepared, then they left and Molly and Arthur went to bed.