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The group in the office stared at the thin man and the Headmaster.
"What is the meaning of this?" the thin man sputtered, seeing the Minister with Severus Snape.
"Preston, it appeared that you forgot to notify Lord Snape that you would need to reschedule your appointment," Fudge said congenially.
"I thought I would be back before the appointment began," the man, Preston, stated calmly.
Fudge smiled at both Preston and Dumbledore. "Well, no matter… I took care of the issue for you. So, no harm done."
"But," Preston looked flustered. "The Headmaster was wanting this to be handled differently."
Minister Fudge frowned. "Why would the Headmaster have a stake in this?" he asked, making his voice sound a touch confused. "Was he under the impression that he, or someone else were to be named Guardian of Miss Granger?"
"No, not at all, Cornelius," Dumbedore said jovially. "I found myself thinking, and thought that perhaps Severus and I should speak about the Guardian arrangements before making anything official. For instance, we are definitely only wanting the minimum Guardianship role over the girl, and I know that there are two separate rituals available."
"We chose to go with the Familial Bonding," Severus told the Headmaster, noticing the look of anger flash over the old man's face.
"That's such a large step to take, my Dear Boy," Dumbledore chuckled.
"Certainly, but I wished to take it, and it certainly makes Hermione feel more secure." Severus smiled down at the little girl, who couldn't help but smile back.
Dumbledore decided to go in another direction. "Goodness gracious, Draco Malfoy, you have certainly grown since the last time I've seen you. What made you decide to come with your Godfather today?"
Draco avoided the old man's eyes, and focused on his nose instead. "Hermione has become my friend, so I thought I'd come with her."
Hermione was nodding. "We got to talking after I came back from our trip to the castle today. You know, after you and I spoke? Draco is very nice."
"Of course he is," Dumbledore chuckled. "I'm glad you're making friends. And of course so happy this Guardian issue has been settled."
Severus smiled, "Well, we should be going. We're meeting Narcissa, Arthur and Ginny in another department." Severus leaned in closer, "You would never believe the crazy situation the Weasley's are in," he muttered as if sharing private information with Albus. He had always made sure to play it like he didn't know of the relationship between Albus and Molly as if he didn't know Molly was Albus's informant.
"You'll have to tell me all about it later, Severus." With that said, Albus turned on his heel. "Preston, thank you for coming see me this afternoon." Then the Headmaster was striding out of the door and out of the department.
"Come, children," Severus nudged Hermione and Draco towards the door. "Let us leave these gentlemen to continue their day."
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Arthur stood and faced his wife. "Currently, I only have your word for that, Molly," he kept his voice light, holding the anger back. "We'll soon find out if it's the truth, but even if it is, Ginny is my daughter. She has been since the day she was born and I held her in my arms."
"Don't feel the same about me, Dad," the boy made the word 'Dad' pure sarcasm.
"I would love to be able to call you my child, Ronald," Arthur said honestly.
The boy scoffed, but didn't say another word.
"Ginevra, come over here at once," Molly snapped when she saw Ginny sitting with Narcissa.
Ginny looked at Narcissa, and then Arthur, the fear plain on her small face. Arthur smiled at her, "You're fine right where you are, Love," he promised.
Molly scowled harshly, and then directed Ron to some empty chairs across from Arthur's group.
A few minutes later the door opened, and Severus, Draco and Hermione, entered the waiting area. Hermione and Draco hurried over to Ginny, while Severus took a seat next to Arthur. Ginny smiled at her new friends.
"Are you all done?" she asked excitedly.
Hermione nodded. She still clutched Draco's arm.
Draco smiled, but he was not happy to see the youngest male Weasley. Any time the other boy showed up he made things unpleasant.
"Yes," Hermione was telling Ginny and Narcissa. "The man wasn't there, but the Minister was. The Minster of Magic! And he performed the ceremony. He was very kind. And we had a family bonding!"
Narcissa smiled down at the girl who was bursting with happiness and excitement. "Well, that sounds splendid, doesn't it?"
Molly sneered watching the occurrence across from her. "Couldn't have any more of your own, so went out collecting strays, Narcissa?" she said nastily.
She wished it didn't, but Molly's words did sting. Narcissa chose to ignore the beastly woman.
Ron had gotten up as soon as the pretty little brunette and Draco Malfoy had entered. This must be the Muggleborn that Dumbledore was going on about. Ron didn't much care for girls yet. Seemed like they were more trouble than they were worth. He approached them, and smiled. "Hullo," he pulled his innocent act around himself like a costume. "Are you new?"
Hermione didn't trust the new boy. Ginny, Fred and George's brother. "I've been around for several months now," she responded politely.
"Oh… OH! You must be the Muggleborn that the Headmaster has been speaking about with my mother." Ron put an endearing smile on his face. "You'll most likely be in the House I'm sure I'm going to be in; Gryffindor."
Hermione shrugged, "I suppose we'll all find out when school begins, and we are sorted."
"I heard that Harry Potter was going to be in school with us this year," Ron wondered if he could get the girl to say more about the Potter kid.
Hermione just nodded. She'd noticed that Draco hadn't said a word, just held her arm very gently, but firmly. "Yes, I've met him. Seems nice enough."
Narcissa looked on with a patient smile as the red-haired, male child, tried to question Hermione regarding Harry. It made her sad to see such a young person, so poisoned by their parent's hateful world views.
The door to the department opened, and Amelia Bones, along with a medi-witch, swept into the room. "Ah, good, everyone is here." She turned her attention to the medi-witch. "Please get samples from Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewitt Weasley first. Then you can take from Ginevra and Ronald."
"I knew it was you behind this," Molly practically snarled at Amelia, as the medi-witch went to Arthur first.
"I really don't know what you are talking about, Molly," Amelia said calmly, and professionally. "My department was of course called in this afternoon when it was found that Ginevra was suffering from poisoning. Apparently, someone was putting Nombis root into the child's food. She is allergic to the root, and if not for her smart thinking she would have fallen into a coma and passed on. Since Nombis root is strictly a potion ingredient, and not an ingredient for cooking, or eating, we know this was added knowing the affects it would have in that capacity. Of course, it's probable that it wasn't known of the girl's allergy, still using such a strong potion component on a child of Ginevra's age is highly unethical, and illegal. There was also question of paternity. As you well know, engaging in sexual activity outside of your marriage vows is also illegal. If one of these children is determined to be of other parentage than Arthur Weasley, he has immediate grounds for termination of your marriage, and can choose to have that done at any time."
"I will choose to have it done immediately following such information being made known to me, Head Auror Bones," Arthur spoke the words while looking directly at Molly.
Molly felt the foundation of her life, built on lies, crumbling around her. She didn't say a word. Everything was about to change, and for her, it wasn't changing for the better. The medi-witch moved to Molly and took her sample. Molly wanted to scream, and slap the woman, but all that would do was earn her fines. If she was lucky, what came to light today would only earn fines, and not time in Azkaban.
The medi-witch next went to Ginny, who watched in fascination. The woman smiled at the little girl. "Are you interested in healing?" she asked the child.
Ginny nodded, "Oh, yes. I think what you do, and what Healers do is ever so fascinating."
Ron sneered at his sister, "You'd have to be smart, which means you don't have a chance."
Hermione frowned, "We'll have to ask Uncle Severus what classes you'll want to really focus on at Hogwarts in order to become a Healer."
Ginny ignored the hateful boy, her brother, "Yes, I think I will." She found that having Hermione and Draco there made her feel stronger to stand up to the older, and bigger, boy across from her."
Ron let the medi-witch take his sample, and then jerked his arm away.
The medi-witch took a yellow potion from a small bag, and poured it into two small vials. She mixed both Arthur and Molly's samples in both vials, and then added Ginny's to one, and Ron's to the other. Ginny's potion turned a golden color, and Ron's turned a deep red.
"It is confirmed that Ginevra Molly Weasley is shown to be the biological child of Molly Prewitt Weasley, and Arthur Charlus Weasley." Ginny gave a little cry, and her father swept her up into his arms.
"I told you," he said softly, "either way, you will always be my little girl. Always."
"I know," she nodded as she whispered, "but this is so much better."
Everyone looked at the medi-witch. "It is also confirmed that Ronald Bilius Weasley, while shown to be the biological child of Molly Prewitt Weasley, is NOT the biological child of Arthur Charlus Weasley. We will file these results, and markers with both the Ministry, and St Mungos. If you wish to do further testing to find out who is the biological father, there will be a registration number assigned for your use."
"We will definitely need that registration number," Amelia told the woman, who nodded back.
Arthur turned to Amelia, "I wish to immediately terminate this marriage."
Amelia sent off a memo with her wand. "As soon as you leave this office, go down to the Magical Office of Records and Deeds and there will be a form for you to sign, and place your magical signature on. Once this is done, it will take twenty four hours for the dissolution to be complete."
He nodded to her. "I thank you, Madame Bones. Please keep me advised on the results regarding Ronald's true parentage. Also, if I can, I would like to request the Weasley name removed from his use."
"That is automatically done upon the finding, unless you wish it not to be. His surname will go to Prewitt until his paternity has been revealed."
Molly shook with rage.
"Well then," Arthur, picked up Ginny in his arms. "Ginny, tell your mother goodbye for now, love."
"Goodbye," Ginny didn't even look at Molly.
"Just speak to the Auror's and have them notify me when you would like a visit with Ginny," Arthur told her. "Of course, with her recent poisoning there will be a chaperone, but I'm sure you'd still like to see her." Then he turned and strode out of the office, Narcissa, Severus, Draco and Hermione following.
Amelia turned to Molly. "If you have any questions regarding today's testing, or any follow-up, please contact my office. If you have any pertinent information you would like to share, that might help your case farther down the line, again, please contact my office. Goodbye for now, Ms. Prewitt." Amelia then turned and left.