A really- really bad idea - By Billybob-csagun36
Chapter 8
This is the second part that contains the 'biggest single chunk' that I took from Jeconais original story (I swear) of course I tweaked it a-tad to conform with my distorted vision of things to come
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Remember this is primarily from Hermione's P.O.V. just before Bill's wedding and her thoughts reflect her thinking … AT THAT TIME
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Do you remember how the last chapter ended?
88**88 - - flashback
"I find that the very idea of being a baby factory … highly offensive", I snarled.
"I'm sure you do", Melissa said as she regarded me with obvious distain. "The concept of male hating females is not a new one. The Amazon culture of warrior women existed well before (and after) the high water mark of the Greeks. - As Veela females out number Veela males by a ratio of nine to one (normally), our solution to the problem of racial survival is a unique culture, which works for us. - What Muggle's call radical feminists; those women among us, who (like your-self) have no desire to continue the species, end up having a vital place in our society; but at a cost".
** Lets resume the conversation … shall we?
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"For your information, I don't actually hate all males, just most of the Neanderthals types I've encountered up to now", I said sternly.
"And how many cavemen have you encountered", Harry snorted.
"I'm not counting you among the 'knuckle draggers', Harry" - I replied.
"But I am a Neanderthal … right?" Ron asked me
"Yes", I replied without hesitation
"We Veela discovered long ago, that no culture can be saved by unborn children", Melissa said, "and when the most radical among us (male haters), reject any interaction with anything that does not directly advance their careers … 'like you' (she said pointing directly at me) we Veela took the most logically appropriate steps. – As a result our culture heavily encourages any budding-feminist (at a very young age) to forego any thought to their 'femininity' and reject any maternal instincts and dedicate their lives to the 'service to the kingdom' (military and civil-servants).
"Is no compromise possible?" Ron asked while looking worried at me.
"We found that our people can't serve two masters …self-centric ambition or the self-sacrifice of motherhood for the benefit of our race. Those with a foot in both camps end up betraying both".
'Now Ron was really worried … such a fool, for not realizing that his feelings for me are unrequited', I said to myself, feeling rather smug.
"As we Veela are blessed (or cursed) with an extraordinary high birthrate among females, my race can afford to be generous in allowing those like you, (again she pointed toward me) to be as self-centric as they like – for it is a lonely existence that you covet so much. Being a mother on the other hand ... is highest calling there is, a sacrifice of for the continuation of our race and culture that is without parallel. With the help of a supportive life-mate, nothing is impossible … love and happiness in abundance, but males that are truly supportive are exceptionally rare among the Veela", Melissa said while glancing hard at Ron.
"Veela who deny their maternal duty to join our military are compensated with monetary and positional rewards for their life-long service to the state. - - Ronald would you be so kind as to explain further", Melissa said while turning toward Ron and directing her full magic on him (a clear demonstration of her power for my benefit) I got caught in the magical backwash and it nearly knocked me off my chair.
"This cultural set-up", Ron continued in a fully enthralled monotone. "Invariably divides the Veela culture into three distinct parts, a limited number of fragile highly protected breeding males - - the breeding females population who try to continue the existence of their species and the asexual (career centric) that dominate their military and government – They like their counterparts in business are heavily discourage by tradition and law, to avoid interacting in any sexual way with the limited number of Veela breeding males"
"Some of the governing matriarchs don't approve of our multiple decades experiments with other species (humans among them) calling it a waste of precious eggs in relation to the children actually produced", Melissa interjected while holding up a hand and thus stopping Ron in mid-sentence. Melissa's control of him was total and yet when she looked in Harry's direction, Melissa seemed unusually pleased that unleashing her full power had little to no effect on him … at all (I on the other hand can't describe how much I felt belittled).
. – "The odd thing is … the non-reproductive Veela is 'almost without exception' the most fanatical supporters of the 'Breeder Faction' and our attempt to continue our species. – We have engaged in repeated experiments with other magical races (such as the Centaurs and Satyrs) and discovered to our great regret, that conception with them is impossible. – In fact; internal Veela hetero-sexual relationships with our males don't result in multiple pregnancies precisely because our men do not go into heat with same frequency as you human wizards do. - Fleur has told me that her William can go into heat as often as three times in an hour and repeat the multiple copulating experience … several times a day. This is not an experience that I have had, but perhaps the age of my human husbands, discourages mating stamina." Melissa said while looking with longing at Harry.
"…The ruling class is entirely female?" I asked sounding incredibly pleased.
"Yes … the Veela have always been ruled by women. The anti-breeding faction can climb as far as their skill-set takes them … all the way up to the matriarchal governing council (our equivalent of your Minister of Magic and the Wizengamot) and even in business women usually control everything financially",
"Ronald; continue please", Melissa said.
"But this career centric existence comes at a steep price; the entire reason for the existence of the non-breeding faction is the continuation of their race and culture" An enthralled monotone Ron continued on like a robot. "Its' simple really …without children the Veela become extinct. - The ever declining numbers of Veela males in recent decades is most likely the key factor behind the Veela going after human breeders. Even a pathetic 'hybrid' half-blood is better than no Veela at all.
Curiosity won-over my self-loathing enough for me to ask. "Why is the breeding 'burden' exclusively heaped on the shoulder female Veela. Why aren't Veela the males doing their part in increasing the herd", I said with thick contempt. Harry, hearing this turned and gave me a threatening look.
"Ronald; do you have an answer for this ill-mannered bitch?" Melissa replied harshly.
"Well-well" I said to myself feeling pleased "I've apparently struck a nerve" as I decided that henceforth; I shall permanently hate … all Veela.
"I can only assume that you've noticed that there are no male Veela here (attending the wedding)", Ron declared like a puppet on strings. "I'm told that the average pure male Veela are fragile things … small in physique, anorexically thin and 'sickly looking creatures' with albino-like complexions and tissue-paper thin skin. - I have personally never seen a male Veela breeder (even in pictures) but it is rumored that Nature itself decreed the annihilation of the Veela, multiple century's ago_ and only the accidental discovery by a randy female that the Veela culture could in fact crossbreed with magical humans, forestalling their extinction. Only the females can breed with us … their males become physically sick (without exception) just from our body odor (smell) or smallest touch of human flesh".
"The Breeders faction of which Melissa is a-part … has high hopes of crossbreeding a hybrid with a much stronger constitution (stamina) that will 'over time' fix the current male Veela physique problem. - They believe this because they have observed what we have done within our Wizarding culture with the mixing of pure-bloods with Muggle's; producing generations of bastardized squibs with dormant magical genes that over time created the very Muggleborn's that have slowly threatened to become the majority".
"That's ridiculous … there is no written evidence that supports…" I began
"…You have done very well Ronald, your common sense understanding of our plight is remarkable", Melissa interrupted me and sounding enormously pleased. "The matriarchs of my family group (called a pride in my culture) – agree wholeheartedly with Ronald's theory and have high hopes concerning marriages like your brother William to my Fleur. In fact my government has recently begun to heavily encourage young Veela to hook-up with fertile wizards instead of our own males, a trend that will only increase in the coming years. To save my race I have committed myself to marry appropriately and only to the strongest of Wizarding breeders", she said this in a casual tone while looking with longing at Harry.
"Did he notice, I wonder? I asked myself
"Ronald; do carry-on", was the Veela command.
"It doesn't take all that much evidence to come to this conclusion; for the parallels in our magical culture are plain to see. The blood-purists marriage rituals of the Wizarding world have resulted in an ever shrinking number of pure offspring. The Malfoy family (for example) has produced only a single male legitimate heir … pre-generation for the last century… or more, thus; negative population growth. - If Lucius and Draco were to die, the entire Malfoy bloodline could conceivably end", Ron managed to mumble still in a semi-daze, "For decades before our civil-war, this dwindling supply of pure blood stud bulls has more or less doomed the fanatical elite to extinction".
"I can see that as a possibility," but I sense you disagree with the consensus on this issue", Melissa said as she turned back her full attention to Ron.
"Listening to Ron has always a wise thing for me to do; Melissa". Harry interjected in a soft almost intimate tone. "I can always depend on Hermione here for the socialist utopian theory (mostly rubbish) with Ron on the other hand, seeing things as they really are, giving me the down to earth (practical) prospective."
"I can see that your two closest friends; represents the bipolar opposites in alchemy, the theoretical (white queen) versus the practical (red king)… Bravo Harry well done", Melissa said in a knowing tone. "Just remember this warning … if you must choose between them, keep the practical".
"Ronald" she commanded again after a pause …"go on".
"There are exceptions to any rule, but that too is cultural and upbringing based. - Draco is an only son of his father; because sex to a snake is duty and not an act of love. - I on the other hand am the sixth son of Arthur; with our families' outlook on sex, far more… healthy. The Weasley clans are known for being overly fruitful and multiplying and our clan is huge … with loads of, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews. We practice tough love, but our delight in family is profound", Ron said.
"I sincerely hope your Clan's tendency to produce an abundance of male offspring's continues - William was chosen by my Fleur with that fact, clearly in mind", Melissa added thoughtfully.
"My mum figured that out after noticing Fleur's unusually aggressive pursuit of her oldest son. I personally believe and can't prove", a 'thralled' Ron said while looking briefly at me with disappointment (an unproven theory is just that … I said more than once). – "My personal theory is that the old elite's devotion to purity is only half of their problem. They have produced generation after generation of pure-blooded witches that think their sole propose in life is 'purist' reproduction. Their men don't think that lovemaking to their wives is any fun. And as there are spells that determine when a witch ovulates… "
"… Oh I see where you are going", Melissa said in delight. "Your pure blood witches are taught that sex is not for pleasure, so they give and expect none; their men think that for sexual enjoyment they have to go elsewhere".
"There are witches today like pug-Pansy that men like Draco; don't want to touch with a ten foot pole, because they are considered ice queen 'frigid' and 'unresponsive', so where does a Randy pure blood wizard go to get off?"
"RONALD BILIUS don't you dare"… I shouted feeling offended by the vulgar subject matter. I should point out that I was a large prude at the time of Fleur's wedding during the summer after sixth year, but idiotic Ron was too enthralled to notice.
**(Time frame is vital in a pensive memory like this – and attitudes can change over time) –
"Shut it Hermione, what Ron is saying is the practical truth" … Harry spat at me.
"The purist elite go off and find a beautiful Muggle, (often targeting married ones) they hit her with an 'imperious curse' and bang the shite out of a woman that's - spell inspired - to shag a perfect stranger senseless. If the purist doesn't kill the Muggle outright, he goes home satisfied while leaving his victim behind …with no memory of what she had done. - Nine months later the magical culture of England gets a squib (which the Muggle's husband thinks is his) a child with hidden magical gene which generations later, results in a noticeable increase …" ,
Ron then stuttered for a-bit before recovering … (showing he was still fighting against being enthralled) "and …and, and - - a tenfold increase … in the birth rate of Muggleborn's; like the ever brilliant and totally beautiful Miss Granger here. - - I therefore; personally believe that the Grindelwald and Riddle Uprisings of the pure blood minority (during our current century) were triggered in large part by the growth into prominence of the Muggleborn's, which the purists themselves spawned. "
Melissa giggled cutely. "A profound thought, Monsieur Ronald …bravo … and very worthy of deeper consideration", she said before turning her attention back to me. "Do you know that even a partially enthralled male cannot lie or in any way deceive a full Veela? - I cannot breach Harry's shields, but your Ronald is an open book to me". –
"Yes … a baby book obviously", I snarled.
"Belittling him is second nature to you …is it not? – Melissa continued. "It is a pity"…, she said while looking intently (back and forth) between Ron and I …, "that you two aren't dating, for your Ronald's love and devotion for you, is the strongest I have ever encountered. - - More importantly, his love is wasted on you … because…"
"… I know exactly how deeply Ron feels for me, thank-you … feelings (I might add) that I have never encouraged in the slightest way. - - My affections currently belong to …" I interrupted harshly, earning another look of disapproval from Harry.
"… Yes-yes; your career ambitions continue to draw you toward; Harry, It's obvious to all but one. - But do not fool yourself into believing that genuine feeling is involved. You do not fancy Harry any more than he fancies you. He is the means to a political end for you _and nothing more", Melissa interrupted - "Harry is a wizard that you covet, because of the overwhelming benefit that a genuine hero would have on your all encompassing career.
"That's a Lie!" I shouted.
"There is no need for insults child", Melissa's snarled in warning. "Deep down, you know … I speak true, besides there is no need to despair; you will get all you hope to obtain; career wise. - - However; the cost to you will be high … a loving husband and two adorable children, who will with time not even recognize you in public as their own mother. They will walk away and not look back … all due to the 'price of success' and the fools who pay it. - - It's a pity really, there is so much more to life than gold. Luckily for you, this destiny can be avoided with extensive therapy.
"Oh I agree, both of my male friends need lots of therapy". I said smugly, not caring that Ron might feel offended
"Not as much as you might think. Regretfully; Harry will never acknowledge his PTSD problems on any level strong enough to seek professional help and Ronald here, the more practical of the pair; will get some therapy to fix a few personal flaws but otherwise will prove to be, surprisingly resilient", Melissa predicted. - "I was speaking more about your need for therapy, child … as you are the one that must change the most, if the fate I speak of … is to be avoided. Being such a dedicated anti-social, workaholic and perfectionist – will always make any normal human interaction, nearly impossible for you", the Veela said with some satisfaction
"There is nothing wrong with me, it's the magical world that's broken" I declared smugly
"Are you a seer?" - Ron asked a moment later …deeply fearing the Veela's 'ridiculous' prediction.
Melissa smiled in a mildly amused way; as I sat there unable to speak from resentment. –
"Foretelling the future is a gift often given to full Veela, but the visions I have are often confusing and contradicting. I consider them to be mere foreshadowing of things that- 'might' -happen, but an outcome that can change with effort. – Actually: it is a tradition in my culture to invite a full Veela seer to a wedding of importance … like this one. The blessing of a truth teller is often critical".
"And what did the Veela seer foretell for this wedding …noble born", Ron asked clearly worried.
"Their union (Bill and Fleur) will be both happy and long lasting, their love shall produce within the next six years …three healthy and bright offspring's … including one … quarter-Veela boy", And then some forty-five years from now" Melissa said with obvious delight. "Fleur will go into her second fertile cycle and will give William another girl and two Veela boys. She has already picked out all six names. - - with William's lifespan (as a wizard) lasting well beyond his third semicenturay (150) multiple birth cycles are not uncommon".
"Multiple birth cycles …for me … no way", I declared with earnest
"Of that, I do not doubt … for Ronald however, its remains a distinct possibility", Melissa said softly and with utter conviction. - - I heard all this; but it did not register as remotely believable (at that time) in my mind even one child was too many.
"Sometimes", Melissa continued. "I find myself agreeing with my parents about marriage. - Mortals make breeding so complicated, but I have found that a quick bang of my head against a wall makes my own reproductive worries go away."
Harry laughed, and Melissa smiled brighter at him. She looked at him knowingly, appraisingly, and I got the sense that she knew more about the future than she was letting-on.
Harry absently conjuring a white rose as he whispered to Melissa in a husky tone. "I've got this for you, Princess," she smiled back with a come-hither look that I found threatening – was she trying to chat-up my Harry?
"Harry," I scolded, "there's no need to invent cute nicknames for everyone."
Harry laughed a little too hard as Melissa blushed as she brought the rose up to her nose and inhaled deeply (danger-danger …sparks flying).
"You didn't recognize her ring?" Ron asked weakly, interrupting my train of thought. His shirt was covered in sweat from the magical strain. I know he felt 'abused' and 'discarded' like a used hand towel … but neither Harry or I ... frankly gave a damn.
My eyes immediately dropped to her hand, and sure enough, there was noble crest on it, that I didn't recognize.
"Can we all pretend that I've asked the obvious question?" Ron asked his voice still trembling.
Melissa blushed even harder (it was so adorably cute, I wanted to strangle her)
"May I humbly present the 'Grand Duchess' … Melissa Marguerite de Flandres," Ron continued with great formality and then continued a moment later, in an aside to Harry and I. - - "The sole Heir to the Royal throne of all Veela living in France. She is also a first-cousin to the Spanish speaking Veela rulers of Portugal and Spain",
Melissa was blushing furiously now.
"How the hell do you –of all people – know about this?" Harry demanded to know.
"Cuthbert Binns was universally despised for being a ghost that was fixated on goblin rebellions", Ron explained in a near exhausted voice while looking straight at Harry, thus avoiding eye contact with Melissa (who only had eyes for Harry) so the tone of Ron's voice had lost some of its quiver. "However; as we all got time to sleep in his class and for that fact (alone) I'm eternally grateful. However; don't think for one moment that there weren't loads more too magical history than the limited crap that Binns taught".
"You weren't joking earlier … you actually like magical history?" - I asked in stunned disbelief.
"Goblin history, no … it's as boring as watching paint dry", Ron said with more vocal clarity as Melissa was watching Harry so closely. – "But real magical history about witches and wizards, the magical folks that founded our country… who built Hogwarts ... the princes, Kings, queens and knights (doing daring do), oh hell yes. - Percy got me hooked when I was little … did either of you know (for example), that my family tree traces back to the 'Boudica' revolt in Britain. - My ancestry was founded on a disgraced Roman- 'Primus Pius' -and his slave/wife; a red-haired witch that he acquired as plunder, after the battle of 'Watling Street' in AD 60. The land the Burrow sits on dates back to that time. - - In fact; most of the chess sets I made during my apprenticeship were based on genuine magical historical events".
"I had no idea", and I actually didn't
"I told you in the presence of a full Veela deception is impossible", Melissa interjected softly with another smile as she rejoined the conversation while never taking her eyes off of Harry.
"Rumor also has it … hint - - hint …that our fair princess here and the rest of magical royalty have the same desire as you do Harry. To be treated as normal people", Ron said fighting to insure that each word made sense. … "As a full Veela; I imagine she would prefer more than anything that we just call her Melissa, rather than by any of her numerous royal titles",
Melissa nodded hard. "Very insightful Monsieur Ronald, you are indeed, full of surprises. But the question remains; Can you three be trusted with my secret?"
"Anytime beautiful", Harry said in a deeply husky tone, "besides; I have a plan."
"Is this a 'Go out and get sloshed plan? Or an 'I'm nipping off of from the Burrow for a bit of sun bathing on the shore at 'Blackpool Sands' near Dartmouth… scheme. - - How about my favorite … we have plenty of time to plan the hunt, Hermione …get things together … supplies and such – plenty of time", I asked all this in a deeply angry tone …while tapping my beaded bag on the table.
"Hmm, none of the above … actually," Harry said with an exaggerated flourish of both hands. "Behold … a wand!"
"Wow," I said as dryly as I could. "What can you do with that, then?"
"I use it to make gestures?" Harry asked impishly, flicking his wand at me. "Anyway, as I'm sure it's escaped your perception, that we're all magical. And with this wand, I can do magic! Such as…"
He waved his wand dramatically, and then pointed it at Melissa. "Chata, wnow, kong bantha, poodoo."
"HARRY JAMES POTTER!" I yelled, rounding on him.
"Yes, Hermione? - He replied sweetly"
"I've accepted wandless magic from you. I've even accepted that occasionally; you feel the urge to say your spells in- 'Klingon' - - - But I will not, under any circumstance, accept you casting spells in Huttan!"
"But…" Harry pouted like a little boy
"No," I demanded. "Swear, here and now, that you will never do that again!"
He looked down like I'd just killed his favorite puppy. "I'm promise," he pouted. "No more Huttan."
"Thank you," I said gratefully.
"What is Klingon … may I ask?" Melissa asked ever so politely.
"It's a made up language from a Muggle T.V. series," I muttered, while turning back to face Melissa; only to find that Melissa now looked different … very different.
The amount of leaked magic was greatly reduced to bearable levels (thank the stars) her hair appeared more normal, banished was the silver-white locks, replaced by a more dulled down silvery blonde mix. - Most adult Veela stood 5'11" but the resized Melissa was noticeably shorter … about 5'6" or maybe, less_ and her features were now less flawless, she was still far more beautiful than me (dammit), but she looked more like a normal pretty human girl. Even the spectacular curves that she once had were now merely great curves. – Bottom line though … she was still flaming HOT (dammit … bloody hell … dammit … I felt so jealous)
"Wow," Ron said in a more normal sounding tone of voice, shaking his head in disbelief.
"What?" Melissa asked warily.
I used my wand perfectly, enunciating the necessary words (in Latin, naturally) to create a mirror with a perfect flick and swish.
"That is me?" Melissa asked.
"Yup," Harry agreed all but swooning at the sight.
Melissa smiled huge – and it was just a pretty girl that thanked Harry profusely, for she had clearly been impressed. He shrugged while blushing super hard… stood-up. "Not a problem … anyway, I am wanted elsewhere, so we hope you enjoy the wedding."
And with that said, hurricane Harry vanished to give his help where ever it was needed. And some places where it probably wasn't wanted, but there are very few people willing to argue with someone who is called the: 'boy who lived'.
"That was- 'THE' -Harry Potter?" Melissa asked, barely acknowledging me anymore, or Ron.
"Yes," I said
"He is not what I expected."
"I get that a-lot," I complained while thinking back to the difference between the media Harry and the real wizard. - And that was the moment when it 'FINALLY' … hit me! … Harry had been openly 'flirting' with Melissa; a full Veela_ and stranger still, she had been flirting back
"Oh, please; tell me all there is to know …about him?" the princess asked with unexpected interest that confirmed that the flirting had gone on …both ways.
So I did. – As best I could while easily resisting the still strong urge to kill her … even with her magic reduced to a bearable level, I couldn't shake my jealousy and overwhelming envy. So when Melissa got up (briefly) to refill her tea a few minutes later … Ron abruptly let go of my hand, apologized profusely (to me) and then disappeared into the crowd. - He was back a few moments later, like a man entering a Muggle mine-field, in his hand was a dripping wet – ice cold … 'diet coke'.
I should have been deeply touched; as I had only mentioned it in passing three-quarters of an hour ago. But in actuality; I hardly acknowledged this gesture as I tried to shake some circulation back into my nearly crushed hand. - A small bow toward Melissa's empty seat and he was gone again. Ron wasn't seen again (by me) until he appeared out of nowhere and asked me to dance at the wedding.
And so Melissa was normal for a few days. She got to greatly enjoy her best friend's wedding, and made friends as a real person. - - I think that Harry fully realized what sort of gift he had given her – but 'then-again' I had never seen before or since, Harry so openly flirt with a woman.
Of course everyone knows how that 'wedding day' ended, the ceremony was perfect, the reception divine … I even got to dance with Ron … then I saw Viktor, Ron got jealous and finally Death Eaters crashed the party … Oh joy.
And as soon as we parted company, at Fleur's wedding – and barely escaping the reception … with Death Eaters at our heels – there was the ambush at the - Muggle Dinner … all of that stuff helped me in forgetting about the ultimate Veela. I was kind of too busy hiding from certain death … and with Ron walking out that tent thinking I had chosen Harry romantically over him – not to mention …the pain in belatedly realizing how much I needed that red-headed (git). –
So I didn't spend a-lot of time in worry about eating that extra slice of pie, (we didn't have any) or not getting up at the crack of dawn to exercise with a professional-trainer, (are you crazy? - that canvas tent was cold and damp most mornings) or even forgetting to remove my eyeliner after a late night date, at one of the finer eating establishments of modern London (yeah …right … as if).
Because I knew (in my soul) that Melissa had never gone for that extra slice of pie, that she had never skipped an exercise session, and she had never forgotten (or needed) to remove any makeup. - The fact that she was (at heart) a nice, intelligent and charming person made her even more irritating to me.
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Did you enjoy the flashback? - - Pensives are great things … aren't they?
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To be continued
