I do not own Harry Potter, or Sherlock!
Chapter 4
Lorelai was having tea with Neville and Susan. Daphne was in Italy with her betrothed, Blaise Zabini. "So... I accepted a Courting request. Do you think you could chaperone occasionally, Suse?" Lorelai asked, after small talk had been exchanged.
Susan coughed, her tea going down the wrong pipe in surprise. "Who? Is it Diggory?" She asked, after recovering.
"I bet it's Shaklebolt." Neville said, adding his two cents worth.
"I thought you wanted to break away fom the Wizarding World?" Susan asked.
Lorelai raised her eyebrow. "Maybe if you'd let me speak, I could explain?" She said, staring at them over the rim of her teacup.
"Spoilsport." Susan said with a grin.
"Go ahead, Lai." Neville said, giving Susan an unimpressed look.
"It is not Cedric, or Kingsley. It is a Muggle who knows about the Wizarding World. His name is Mycroft Holmes." She said. She was slightly apprehensive about their reaction.
Neville and Susan stared at Lorelai, with their mouths gaping. "A Muggle sent you a Courting request?" Susan asked in surprise.
"How did you meet him?" Neville asked.
"The Queen introduced us. He is one of only three members of the British Government who know. He did a lot of research about how to officially Court me, and gave me a very thoughtful bouquet. This is the bracelet he gave me." Lorelai said, holding out her slender wrist for them to see it.
Both Susan and Neville inspected the bracelet, nodding in approval. Neville smirked wickedly. "This is gonna put the kneazle amongst the pigeons! How do you think the Wizarding World is going to react when they learn you are Courting a muggle, when you turned down Malfoy, Diggory, and Shacklebolt?" He said.
Lorelai grinned. "First of all, Kingsley never asked to Court me. He gave me a bouquet, but no jewelry or request. Secondly, anyone in their right mind knows I would never Marry Malfoy." She said, making a face. Susan and Neville laughed, that was true enough.
"What about Diggory? He is a dish!" Susan asked.
Lorelai frowned. "We had started sort of dating before the Tri Wizard, but he did not request to Court me then. When my name came out of the Goblet, even though I didn't have to compete after the investigation proved I did not enter, he still seemed to believe that I could have. Mainly though, Sirius didn't like him." She said.
"Why not?" Neville asked, after Susan and him shared a look.
"He was offended on my behalf that Cedric didn't ask to Court me. He believed that Cedric thought it wasn't necessary because I am not a full Pureblood." Lorelai said, sipping her tea.
Neville sputtered. "Really? I wonder if that is true?"
"Well, we'll never know, now. So tell us about this man." Susan said.
"Well he's older. 35 I think. He is absolutely brilliant. Beyond genius. He is also more powerful than the Prime Minister, but works behind the scenes." Lorelai said.
Neville nodded. "You need someone older, Lai."
"What does he look like?" Susan asked eagerly.
"Well, he is really tall. He has wavy black hair, and icy blue eyes." Lorelai said. "I think he is handsome. He is also very proper. Carries an umbrella, and everything. Andromeda has agreed to be a primary chaperone. We are going to a Charity function at one of Will's polo games tomorrow." She said, starting a mental list of things she needed to accomplish before then.
MEANWHILE...
Across town, Mycroft was visiting Mummy. "It is wonderful to see you, dear. But we both know you rarely visit without an invitation. What did you wish to speak about?" Violet Holmes asked her oldest son.
"Ah, yes Mummy. I have entered a relationship with a young Lady. Lady Potter-Black to be precise. We are Courting in an old fashioned way, requiring a chaperone and everything. I was introduced to her by the Queen, Herself. Because of her social standing, I anticipate a lot of publicity. I did not want you to find out in the papers." Mycroft said, sipping his tea blithely.
"Really? Oh, Myc! I'm so happy for you! Tell me all about her." Mummy gushed excitedly.
Mycroft smiled smugly at her. It was the most emotion she had seen on his face for awhile. "She is very beautiful. Very refined. An intelligent and strong woman, although she is very young. A typical courting will last three to six months, followed by an engagement. If all goes well, I will be married within the next 18 months. She is currently finishing her Degree at Oxford." He said, proud that he had made such a fine catch. It wasn't set in stone, but he had no intentions of letting her slip through his fingers.
"How young is 'very young'?" Violet asked.
Mycroft paused. "She is nineteen, but in her culture, she is expected to marry young." He said.
"Nineteen?" Mummy said, slightly aghast.
"She is very mature for her age, Mummy. She was just awarded a Victoria Cross for taking down the leader of those terrorist attacks last Summer. Besides, Princess Diana was only nineteen when she started dating Prince Charles, and he was in his thirties as well." Mycroft said, slightly defensive.
"And look how well that turned out." She stated, deadpan. She sipped her tea, then sighed. "So, she is a witch?" Mummy asked, causing Mycroft to sputter.
"What?" He said, losing all composure.
Violet smirked. "You aren't the only one in the know, dear. My father was a squib, and so am I. I can still see enchantments, though I have no magic of my own. I've often wondered if it was 'art in the blood', or 'magic in the blood' that resulted in you and your brother. Either way, she must be of some rank to require a full Courting." She said, musingly.
"She is. She's a Lady from a Most Ancient and Most Noble House, twice over." Mycroft said, slightly rattled by these revalations.
"Well," Mummy said, setting down her teacup. "tell me everything you have done, or given her so far. You, my son, deserve the best. If she is what you want, then you will get her. We will knock her socks off." She said, looking determined. He felt a feeling of forboding creep over him.
Mycroft wondered; What am I getting into?