DISCLAIMER: HP belongs to JKR. The storyline, all new characters, new character development, new developments are my intellectual property. This story is not a plot bunny, not to be either use it further developed by anyone . Glorioux

Cormac the unhappy

- The ghost and the Prince-

At the McLaggen

On Friday Harry flew the car. "I think we have the wrong coordinates," Harry told Hermione when the saw the old fortification that appeared as a ruin to Muggles.

'"No silly, look again, " Now they could see the castle that had been rebuilt several times over the centuries.

Cormac's father and mother were waiting. Several others stood next to them, two were children, young witches and twins by the look of it.

"Welcome Miss Granger, welcome Mr. Potter, what have we here?"

Bijoux the cream colored Cairn terrier descended, and took off after Kneazles before you could bat an eye.

Harry took off after her, and the two young witches went along, all laughing and calling the bad dog.

"Sorry, she is a little crazy when she sees felines, a terrier thing." Hermione apologized.

"Yes, I know we have a few of our own, they are up and about and don't worry they are friendly." Cormac's father smiled, coming towards her. He was as handsome as his son but friendlier. It was the kilt; hmm, she imagined Cormac in his.

His wife also moved forward, "Miss Granger, so nice to see you again. We have met, I hope you—"

Hermione interrupted her," Yes, Lady McLaggen of course I remember you, Laren, is your name, am I correct? It is so nice to see you."

Laren McLaggen gave her a continental-hug and kisses on each cheek. "Call me Laren darling, thanks for coming."

"This is my daughter Caitrin," Hermione shook the younger witch's hand.

She looked like her mother, beautiful blue eyes and very dark auburn hair with bluish and golden highlights, as the one of the young witches, a beautiful witch and a little shy.

The other wizards were relatives and cousins and all quite friendly.

Harry came back with the miscreant barking and growling in his arms. Several other dogs of different sizes and breeds followed them; she was sad that Camellia wasn't here with them, next time.

"Father, the dogs were all chasing the Kneazles and all were being naughty." The blonde witch was laughing and running with the dogs, the other one was talking to Harry, she had to be a twin, but her hair was darker, a very dark auburn just like Caitrin's.

Harry felt his heart beating way too fast, he was happier than in a long, long time the moment he saw Caitrin.

Hermione observed Cormac's father closing his arms around his wife's waist, and if she wasn't wrong he had nuzzled her neck in the moment she turned to look at Harry. How romantic, she could have had that, it didn't look bad. However, she also noticed Caitrin's mildly annoyed look, and the sneer of the younger wizards.

"Miss Granger, would you mind following me and my wife to the receiving room? Maybe Caitrin and my nephews could help Mr. Potter with the luggage and parking the car in the garages, handsome auto Mr. Potter," Mr. McLaggen looked in Harry's direction.

"I wish, it isn't mine, I am just the driver, it belongs to sw-er Mimi." He almost said sweet curly, he would have been dead. She made a face, duly noted.

The request

They were sitting in a large room, Hermione had been given a glass of a smooth red wine, and they appraised each other with some interest. Hermione wore elegant yet understated robes with Muggle boots in a dark red.

"Miss Granger, you might find our request most peculiar. I understand that your family are Muggles and perhaps not knowledgeable in some of the Wizarding word's customs." Gavin McLaggen was a skilled negotiator and was gauging his words' impact.

"I have studied a lot of them and know the ones available thru books." She smiled warmly. Both the parents appear nervous as they sat next to each other and held hands. Hermione found it super romantic and wondered if Cormac was just like that.

"I also understand you have as of recent times ended your relationship with Mr. Ronald Weasley, err, his father informed me when I saw him at the Ministry just the other day." He added quickly. His wife rolled her eyes, aha, she had been investigated and wondered why, and her hands turned sweaty.

"I will be honest and go to the point; we want to buy your marriage contract for Cormac. He isn't getting any younger, and we are concerned with his health. You see, there is a curse in our family… and that is the truth." He told her a slightly modified version, one which didn't include his lewd tale of his wedding, the brooch, or what Cormac had confided on him.

"And why are you coming to me? Cormac has never approached me." She was perplexed.

"I thought you might ask that. He has only talked about one witch, you." Gavin promptly answered.

"Be candid Miss Granger," it was Laren who was yet to comment, "was he a pest during your years at Hogwarts to the point you had to hide from him; were his hands a bit too fast for you? Was he so naughty that your friends alerted you when he was in the vicinity so you could hide?" The mother had a knowing twinkle on her eye and looked at Hermione with a raised eyebrow.

Both were looking at her as if she were a bug in a jar.

Memories of the day at the forest came to her, of his naughty smile, of the years when he pursued her, and her blush went from pink to bright red. The knowing, "Aha," by both the McLaggen didn't help; it was like they knew her secret, and it made want to run away from this room.

Cormac's father, Gavin, broke in a rather inappropriate snicker and winked his eye to his wife, whose face also turned red. Hermione was seeing a pattern here, something naughty and possessive about the McLaggen wizards, and she wasn't sure whether she liked it or not.

"Yes, I guess that would be one way to put it. " Hermione looked at her freshly manicured nails, seeding in annoyance.

"Well, my dear Miss Granger.."

"Hermione," she interrupted him, "Please, my name is Hermione, or Mimi as my family calls me, but I prefer Hermione."

"Gavin, please to meet you, later you can call me father, it would be my honor," he smiled a charming smile. Hermione thought he was pushing it; he looked too much like Cormac and that was annoying her just a bit. The saying of the apple does not fall far from the tree, was quite adequate in this instance.

"As I was saying, you are the one, we were right. There is only one small hitch, we cannot force you to marry him, and you need to learn to love him. He is not a bad lad. Hmm, take that back, he is really unbearable right now, and we fear for him. Arranged marriages can work for the best. We were arranged." He looked at his wife lovingly.

Laren shook her head most emphatically; it struck Hermione as too anxious, but four children and all that touching couldn't be faked. She had seen them at two Wizarding Balls, and people commented how they behaved as honeymooners. It was actually five children, as she would soon find out. There were what? Hmm, the smirks on the faces of his daughter and nephews, what were they trying to tell her, what?

She was most doubtful about her position when a ghostly presence made his entrance. An old wizard, dressed in a kilt, and a twisted, possibly broken, neck, "Don't let the lad marry that vixen. My Bertha looked like her, hot blooded and a cheap cheat. She caused my early death."

Gavin's change was immediate, "Out you ugly old goat ! You caused your own death. Marrying a witch over one hundred years younger than you, it was your sick jealousy what killed you, out, out. Or I will call an exorcist; I should have done it long ago."

"He will see, the young fool, all witches are the same, and the tarts aren't happy being pricked by just one wizard…" He disappeared in an instant when Hermione pulled her wand and started reciting a ghost ridding enchantment.

Surprisingly, both McLaggen broke in laughter, "Fiery lass, no wonder our boy loves her."

She smiled proudly putting her wand away. "I don't like witch haters, old fool. I tell you what, I believe you. Not sure why but, I do. And you are right, I could do worse than Cormac, but shouldn't he be here."

This they hadn't counted on. They were going to impose their parental rights to force the marriage on him, knowing that was what he needed.

She noticed their grim faces. "He didn't send you to do this? I was under the impression you were his emissaries, I assumed, I thought." Hermione continued as their faces fell, and hers fell as well; she couldn't help it and her lip quivered. The weight of her guiltless sins came back to haunt her.

"He doesn't know, he would kill us," Laren decided the truth was the best policy at this point. "We knew you were the one, we fibbed a little. He told us he had, err, seen you kissing Mr. Weasley at the battle, and you had let him think that you cared during your 5th year. He left home all hopeful for his 7th year and came crying after his graduation."

Hermione's eyes blinked and the denied tears came as a flood. The magnitude of the Weasley's manipulation came upon her, the pain took over her, as she remembered all the betrayals and humiliations inflicted upon her by Ron. They were speechless.

Laren moved to one side of her, and Hermione laid her head on her lap, while the witch caressed her head and her back.

Hermione told them a modified version of their meeting, about Harry and her being fed a potion for all the years, about this and that. She hadn't wanted to tell on the Weasley, it just came out. The pain of their rights violation was becoming unbearable; particularly now that she was discovering all the collateral damage, poor Cormac, his family, Harry, and even she, Hermione.

"Did you go to the Aurors," Gavin asked, his jaw was clenched, and he appeared murderous. "This could have killed my son, how irresponsibly criminal. How could someone respectable do this? Did you say Dumbledore was behind it? I never trusted him, neither did my father." Laren was pale and visibly shaken, how could this happen in this century?

She couldn't tell them about Arthur, let him say something.

"Hermione, I don't really think Cormac will be willing to believe anything at this point. Sorry if this has been rough. You are a good person, another would have taken revenge upon them, and they deserve it." Laren told her, she knew her son. When he was little it would take him months to forgive his friends, nothing had changed since then.

They talked to her for a while longer, they had just shaken hands when Harry, Caitrin, a young wizard that seem to be a double of Cormac at Hogwarts, and Cormac, who didn't suppose to arrive until Sunday were at the door.

"Hello Granger, what brings you here, where is your fiance?" He looked awful. Hermione saw the dark circles under his eyes, and he was almost as slender as in school; he wasn't the dashing Cormac whose picture often appeared in the papers.

"I came to sign the contract your parents have negotiated with me. And I just have." She answered defiantly.

Harry had no idea what she was talking about. Cormac's parents were avoiding looking at him.

"Father, mother, what is she talking about?" The twins came in running with a pack of barking beasts behind them, whose barks turned into squeals upon seeing Cormac.

The twins who were still happy to see their older brother jumped on him.

"Get off me!" he barked angrily, scaring the dogs away.

"You are an insufferable, nasty, mean devil. You won't get Miss Granger to like you, and it serves your right," the young witches laughed, pulled their tongues out at him and ran after the dogs, and Cormac's brother ran after them.

"You need to learn some manners; this isn't the way to behave around your future wife." His father told him in a matter of fact voice.

Caitrin pulled Harry away from the room, but Harry was mesmerized, what was going on here, and when had Hermione decided to get married? Maybe this was a joke; he looked at Hermione who was looking at her nails. Traitorous witch, holding out secrets, she was going to hear from him…and her face lifted, he saw her swollen eyes, oops.

Yes, it was time to skedaddle, and he left swiftly after Caitrin.

"This is some sort of joke, right?" Cormac felt ill, what had his parents done? They had no right. He didn't want her to marry him out pity, even if she looked so, so, so desirable. Fuck she looked as the tastiest of treats; and to his disgust, he felt himself hardening against his wishes.

"It isn't a joke. I broke up with Ron a while ago. If you are interested about the particulars I would be glad to explain, you—"

He cut her off, "No I'm not, and I don't want to hear your excuses. He found someone who actually looks good? Someone who doesn't have wild hair, or is a nasty know-it-all? Someone who is actually able to have a good time at date and say thank for the presents— "Hermione covered her eyes, pressing her forehead.

Cormac's eyes were fixed on the charm bracelet and left the room in a hurry.

As soon as he left, "If you don't mind, I don't think this is going to work." She was trembling, knowing that she had deserved it all. She looked at his parents who were laughing, "It is working, when he runs, and he insults, it's a clear sign he cares. He only growls these days, he is talking, more than one word, he is saying complete sentences." They smiled happy and with joy.

Hermione was thinking these people were a little off, but deep inside she wished they were right.

Dinner time-

Harry knocked at Hermione's door.

"Curly pea, I need you to help me," he had a bow tie in his hand.

Hermione had decided ignoring the curly pea business was best, Arthur had recommended she did so. Thus far it wasn't working, it was making him more imaginative, she cringed at the thought he might say in mixed company. Best to be quiet, and he would forget. No, he wouldn't, time to use force.

"Harry, you use the words sweet, pea and curly together or in the same sentence or to address me, and I will do something wicked to you. You can count on that. Wow, you look fab. Where did you score the kilt?"

"Oh, it was Sirius. He had all type of formal wear and Kreecher helped me with it. He had all the accoutrements as well, just check it out, dancing plaid, brooch, gold kilt pin, brand new socks, several, oxford brogue shoes, sporran with heavy silver fixings, a dirk, and I place my wand in the sheath for the traditional knife. And don't ask, I am not sure whose tartan this is. Oh well." He smirked a bit goofy.

"How do I look, really," Harry wanted more reassurances. He had his contact lenses on and had combed his hair. The short Prince Charlie jacket showed his fit body. He looked great. Wow.

"And why all the finery, brooch, bow-tie, short jacket, hmm, you look yummy. Too bad we never got together," she flirted, "there you go, you are ready. Caitrin is it? " She wanted to know, it would work out perfect.

Harry made a face of, oh well, "Yeah, she is beautiful, I guess she must have been in the second year when we left."

"Must have, does she have a boyfriend?" and regretted asking at seeing Harry's worried look.

"I don't know. She didn't say, I asked her if she wanted to pair up for some of the events for Cormac's birthday, and she said sure. What do you think it means?" He appeared very concerned and a dark cloud had set upon him. Hermione wanted to smack herself for planting a seed of doubt.

"I think, it means you are fine, why else would had she accepted. Now, how do I look?" She gave a little twirl around.

She wore a Muggle gown, the tight bodice with an opening in the back and mostly bare shoulders, tank cut, made of heavy dark burgundy silk, and the generous skirt, made with McLaggen tartan design also in silk.

On her neck she wore a chunky choker made out pearls and the same stones in the heavy charm bracelet, a loan from Cormac's mother. Her hair was up in a chignon, with a few curls left out, on her feet she wore elegant mid heel booties; her make up was very light, except for the very red lips.

"You look absolutely beautiful. Hermione, what is going on? Are you really in a contract, or is this some kind of ruse." His eyes were trying to bore into her brain.

"I am in something," she answered mysteriously.

"Really, tell me." He begged.

"You will know as soon as I know myself. Let's go."

"Spoiled sport, but I tell why if you give me a tiny clue, I won't call you the SCP word while here." And Harry flashed her with a smile worth of a pirate. It was as if the potion was keeping him down, now he was flourishing into a horrid marauder, what a joy. He had found his inner tormentor of female witches.

Hermione ignored him, this didn't bode well, of that she was sure, and she knew him well, the promises were worth the time it took him to make them. Arthur already knew about her baby pictures, curly pea, and a few more improper morsels her father had entrusted to the new Harry. Yes, he would drink too much and would be indiscreet.

In his room Cormac wasn't ready yet; his stomach felt sick. He didn't want her pity, and what was Potter doing here? Someone was at the door; it was Shaw his young brother dressed in formal wear, since they had to dress for dinner during the weekends.

"Mother sent me to make sure that you are ready," Shaw told him, his lips pursed in an ugly sneer, "You are an idiot, she is Hermione Granger, the Gryffindor Princess and very pretty, what did you do to make her upset? Everyone has pictures of her, even the wizards of the other houses. You are lucky that I am still too young; otherwise, I would take her away from you in one blink." He stuck his chest out, challenging his former idol.

"None of your business bog-boy, if I wanted your opinion I would ask for it. Tell mother to tend her own guests, I am not coming down." He took a deep pull from his Firewhiskey.

"Son, if you want to have a family past this weekend, you have ten minutes sharp to come down. Otherwise, you can move your things to the flat in Edinburgh, and you can ask James for the keys. From then on, you come to see us only for special occasions; I am tired of your self-destructive behavior. You have a princess waiting for you, and everyone of your cousins wants her. So maybe, I should sell her contract. They care little about the Blood business, and they know who she is."

His father was at the door and once he finished, he held his younger son by his shoulders, "Let's go son and leave the big Quidditch Star to stew on his own bile. Let's go and meet your soon to be sister-in-law .