Marriage and Inheritance
Chapter 25: entitled: McGonagall's Office
Word count: 9,610 (plus or minus a few, here and there)
Author: Billybob
Category: post O.o.t.P ... AU - Alternate Universe — which means that HBP and DH didn't happen.
Warning # 1; I will pick and chose items from JKR last two books as it suits my fancy, and disregard other bits of cannon just as easily.
Pairings will be; HG-RW, as the primary focus …with sub-plots of HP-GW among others. So if I wander off and do another couple's romance, sit back and enjoy the ride! All other relationships as outlined in the Epilog in book seven are hereby Null and Void …unless I say otherwise.
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Premise of this story; This tale is centered on two primary themes –
One, the JKR discarded premise of 'inner-house unity' and the strange notion that - not all - Slytherin's are evil Death Eater …wannabe's.
Secondarily: has anyone ever wondered what happens to a Hogwarts student who doesn't get enough OWLS to go on the NEWTS level? Not everyone goes on to University you know. Potions was a requirement to become an Auror, and neither Ron nor Harry made the cut under Snape, a new potion professor had to be brought in during HBP to get around this fact. Even then Harry and Ron didn't return seventh year, didn't sit the NEWTS exams and yet still ended up Auror's in the Epilog. Doesn't that strike you as …odd?
Time line: begins late July 1996 summer holiday between HP school terms 5 and 6
Rated: M, - just to be safeguarded from the prudish criticism of the overly sensitive. The rating is what it is for adult language and banter, some UK profanity / slang and implied sexual innuendo. I do not write smut.
Standardized disclaimer: is there anyone on this planet that doesn't know who has all legal copy rights to Harry Potter, with us in fan fiction just burrowing it for our own amusement and that of our readers.
Apology: Omissions in plot: in response to a review: It has been pointed out to me several times …that Harry is not the type of bloke to go through official Governmental channels to rescue a kidnapped friend (case in point; Sirius Black at the Department of Mystery) and I honestly toyed with the idea of an adventure in the back-country of Bulgaria. I even purchased a map of the country and did a cruise of the internet for pictures of Bulgarian Castles just to get the feel of how they were laid out.
Then it hit me, stories with Ron and Harry rushing off to rescue damsel in distress Hermione have been …done to death …by others …for years. Right from the off; the Hermione in my story isn't some frail helpless little thing. She has spunk enough to take on an army single handed. Secondly; she is smart about lots of things …but dumb about the proper tactics employed in dating boys or more important landing the life mate she wanted. But hey …give the girl a break …everyone makes romantic mistakes growing up and in Mione case …she made a whopper.
That said …Hermione in my story isn't the type to wait for a rescue and she didn't, that her escape attempts failed …isn't half as important as the fact that she had the pluckiness to try.
It also accrued to me that after falling into a trap at the Department of Mysteries Harry would have learned his lesson (at great cost) and would therefore be very reluctant to rush off into the unknown before thinking things through …a second time. Ya…think.
Finally, there is the matter of a major battle taking place mere moments after Hermione's abduction, and Ron's very serious injuries from the overlooked battle of the stairs.
Even as forgiving as my readers have been in my abuse of JKR cannon …I rather doubt that you-all would take kindly to a rescue attempt of Hermione that Ron took no part in …savvy?
Enuff-said
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Roll Film
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Monday March 3rd, 1997 …time; ten in the mourning
Place; History of Magic class …5th year …as taught by; Professor Percy Weasley
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With quill in hand Ginny was rapidly scratching class notes onto a piece of parchment, regretting for the hundredth time the infernal arse of a Hufflepuff who had accidentally exorcised the ghost of professor Binns, the previous instructor of Magical History. Right up to last term a student sitting a class with Binn's could expect a more or less free period, to catch up on homework from another class, write letters home, gossip by passing notes …or like her brother Ron …take a nap.
But …my Sweet Merlin …no. That Git who banished Binns ghost couldn't wait until next year to get rid of the ghost teacher, couldn't wait until Ginny had finished her five mandatory years of History of Magic. So Ginny was stuck with a living Professor and worse yet …a damable interesting and informative one. Gone were the boring lectures on the endless goblin rebellions, replaced by the history of wizards and witches, how they formed a community, established laws and a government totally separate of the Muggle monarchy.
Ginny would not admit it to anyone, especially her family, but her stuffed shirt of a brother Percy …was actually a fantastic teacher of history. His overinflated ego, made large while working at the Ministry had been punctured and deflated when he had been sacked. Humbled rather than embittered by the experience, with the widowed Mrs. Fudge romantic attention acting as more than adequate compensation for his loss of governmental prestige. Percy had stepped out of his self-made shell of arrogant self-righteousness to become a warm and giving human being, with only two obsessions remaining in his life. Sharing his love of magical history by making his favorite subject interesting and exciting to his students …and secondly: to worship the ground that Audrey Maria Conchita-Alonso Fudge walked on.
"Penelope Clearwater never held Percy's affections while at Hogwarts half as deeply as Audrey does now. Curse Ron the seventh level of Hades realm for being right about the horrible choice Fudge put Percy through," Ginny had thought to herself. "If I had been forced to choose between Harry and my family …Harry would have won, plain and simple …just as Ron had predicted.
Come to think on it …Ron being right about stuff …more and more often these days …was getting downright annoying! "
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Sitting right next to Ginny and making her own class notes sat the self-admittedly ...somewhat-strange ...Luna Lovegood-Summerby who had found herself upon her return to Hogwarts in January …with her dowry-day spouse David …dead and buried …exiled from Ravenclaw House due to the numerous letters written by the parents of her former dorm mates to the Board of Hogwarts Governors concerning …the now public knowledge of her promiscuous past.
As a result of the parental outcry the self-confessed Scarlett Woman in an act that many considered totally out character …publicly denounced her physical and mental abusers still living in her former house as hypocritical cowards. She decried the Intellectual self-righteous among them who had stood by and did nothing as she had been pranked and tormented for years by those that openly stole …every year …most of her belongings.
Luna like all the others who had fought on September 14 had undergone change in personality, otherwise this stunning diatribe in-front of the entire school during the welcoming-back feast when classes resumed in January would never have happened. This cutting denouncement of abuse within Ravenclaw went completely unanswered by those who had made her life miserable while in her former House, nor was Luna punished for her speech by the teaching staff …including a deeply embarrassed Professor Flitwick …who knew better than most …the mistreatment the blonde girl had undergone and that he had done nothing to prevent.
So Luna still lived in the Dowry tower …in the quarters that she had briefly shared with the late David Summerby. It was just the three of them on the second floor of the Dowry Tower now, as Neville having been promoted to a full professorship, had been compelled to move into the far more spacious faculty quarters between Professors' Weasley and Fudge.
The Board had a full blown hissy-fit over the professor-student relationship taboo …until Neville and his future father-in-law threaten to resign …yet again. The board faced with another staffing disaster had backpedaled fast and had even agreed to Neville's demand that the widow Summerby not be expelled for moral misconduct …something that the board was rumored to be considering.
A few misguided Ravenclaw's had attempted to prank Luna in revenge for the embarrassment their house continued to suffer over the still ongoing inner-house abuse of anyone that didn't fit into the Ravenclaw stereotype. These few classroom brilliant but common sense idiots …did not take into account Luna's numerous friends and allies when they began a prank war against the unearthly blonde girl.
So a brief and mostly one-sided prank war broke out between a few foolish Ravenclaw's and Luna, Harry and the entire Weasley pranking machine. This included Fred and George with long-distant suggestions and Ron who outright refused to sell any pranking material to any Ravenclaw's …while at the same time giving a ninety percent discount to his sister. Luna also found stealth logistic support coming from at least two unnamed members of the teaching staff.
In the end Professor Flitwick went to the Headmistress asking for a cease fire. The need for a peaceful end of hostilities became really desperate …when some unnamed student had pointed out to her friends and former dorm mates the social advantages' in being on the same side as Ginny Potter in the dispute. Face with the prospect of having his house supplant Slytherin as the home of intolerance, Professor Flitwick on behalf of his entire besieged house …surrendered unconditionally.
Those that had abused Luna and stolen her belonging while she had lived in Ravenclaw were identified and given long overdue punishments that fitted the crimes committed ...in the Gilbert and Sullivan tradition. No one told Ron any of this and yet somehow he knew details of the justice dispensed that only a very special few outside of Ravenclaw were aware of.
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Luna found it increasingly difficult to focus on her classes recently, and it was all her secret boyfriends fault. After losing Neville, she had convinced herself that Love was gone from her life forever; Ron however …had insisted that she was wrong for as he put it:
(Flash-back starts)
"The bloke upstairs hasn't forgotten what you did …protecting the midgets first years in the library and I asked my guides to put in a good word for you," Ron said with deep conviction. "You just wait, the world needs dreamers like you, who see possibilities where others don't. You're special and you need to pass your gifts onto another generation. Ignore the others when they try to hook you up with blokes, I'll find the perfect bloke for you, I swear on my magical you'll be happy …and sooner rather than later."
"But at what cost to you, you're already paying the bill for so many …"? Luna had replied.
"Destiny makes plans all the time, Luna and we humans always have the option to pass on what's offered. We are what we are by the choices we make in life," Ron said quoting an old fool …while explaining his personal outlook on his unwanted gift. "When fate knocks on the door of life, you'll have to decide on whether or not to open it. In fact you have a bigger variety of choices than Harry, Hermione or I do. I tried to change Hermione's fate and failed, but by attempting it …my free will choice put in to motion a different fate for countless muggle-borns in the library. We saved loads of lives by making our stand on those steps.
"Almost nobody knows about what we did, Ron, that's why I wrote my poem."
"That's true, but your forgetting one thing …the bloke upstairs sees and knows everything we do down here. Or at least I hope he does …otherwise I'd go insane. Now I'm not a local Vicar …so I honestly don't know if there is any divine plan or whether he's making it up as he goes, adapting and changing things as required. But I do believe down to my core …that seers are his messengers, like when we stop in a shop to ask directions to the next village, a seer sends travelers down the right direction, hoping they'll find the right path.
"But you're a seer Ron.
"Actually, Luna, I'm not so sure that I am a true seer in the classic sense," Ron said apologetically. "I see myself more as a delivery boy, a fancy courier for the bloke upstairs, passing on the stuff he wants the magical world to know. If you follow that theory to its logical end …you'll realize that any really good delivery boy gets tips now and then for doing a good job. Now if gratuity for me …takes the form of calling in a favor every so often …to help one of my friends …such as asking for the bloke upstairs to send a nice bloke your way, where's the hurt?"
"Ronald, you can't bargain with the maker of all things," Luna admonished her friend. "But even if you could the cost of such a favor …"
"Everyone keeps telling me that …and if I'm wrong about all this …then I'm just demented and self-delusional …nothing new about that," Ron said in a joking tone. "Of course …if your wrong and the bloke upstairs does find you a bloke on his own for what you did for the first years in the library, then perhaps the bloke upstairs just-might …still owe me a favor I can use for somebody else. If I do beg a favor to help you out …your payback to me is this …to be as happy as possible with this bloke your sent. That's all I ask of any of my friends, to never again take for granted the tiny miracles that he sends to us with each and every sunrise."
"Ron, what happened to you," Luna asked suddenly feeling very shy. "When did you become so profound and spiritual?
"I've looked death in the eye and came so close to the other side …I could almost hear the angles singing", Ron said in a sad resigned tone. "I hope none of my friends will come as close death as I have and then get jerked back to living. I've also lost the love of my life to a bloke not worthy to lick her boots ...and I've been told by the powers above that neither I nor Harry can do anything to change Hermione destiny, only she can do that.
"I'm just a pawn for one of the players in a greatest Chess Game of them all, something that's beyond my understanding or my control. So it was either become wise and spiritual or open a vein."
"You've thought of ending it all," Luna asked horrified.
"Teenagers get depressed all the time, its part of the rites of passages into manhood according to my Dad. And you must admit that our little peer group has undergone a lot more stress in the last few years than you typical teenage Muggle".
"Is it thinking about Hermione that makes you …" Luna inquired
"Tempted" Ron replied with a sad smile. "Yes thinking of what I lost makes life seem rather pointless. But I made a bargain and I fully intend to hold up my part of it."
"A bargain that benefits Hermione directly," Luna said coyly and when Ron's eyes went as wide as a deer in the headlights of an oncoming Muggle motor-car, "Thought so! …I've caught you out …Ron Weasley"
"Well done, Luna. You're not too bad at the insightful stuff yourself."
"You've been talking to the dead, I chat-up the Castle of Hogwarts, we both have unusual sources of information. Still …all in all you've been a really great friend to me Ron." Luna said without any of her usual dreamy unearthly mannerisms. "The only one with whom I don't feel that I have to pretend to be ruddy insane all the time."
"Make sure you show the real you to the bloke fate finds …no acting Looney and scaring him off …promise me …please Luna."
"As soon as you tell me which bloke is mine, I swear all pretense with him ends."
(Flashback ends)
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Luna emerged from the memory of her chat with Ron and glancing down at her parchment only to find a list of names that she had unconsciously written …Luna Scamander …Mrs. Luna Lovegood-Scamander, Mrs. Luna Scamander-Lovegood and the old fashioned …Mrs. Rolf Scamander
Then beneath the list in a totally different handwriting was the following
"Luna dear,
You asked me to let you know when she arrived …well you were right she did come back and under her own power, exactly as you predicted. She was just escorted to the headmistress office by the new caretaker.
Looking up from the parchment as the note faded away, Luna abruptly turned her head toward the bare stone wall to her left and began to speak in a casual conversational tone …as she had been taught as a child that it's extremely rude not to face the entity she was talking to.
"How long ago did she arrive?" Luna asked the stone wall, startling Ginny
"Luna …please be quite, you'll get us into trouble" Ginny said to her friend in a whisper.
"Not now Ginny I'm busy," Luna retorted before turning back to the wall. "An hour ago …why didn't you tell me sooner? …"
"…What do you mean when you say …she's appears sickly …is she ill?"
"Miss Lovegood is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the class" Percy asked appearing next to the desk that Ginny and Luna shared looking very annoyed.
"Not now Percy," Luna retorted clearly upset at the interruption. "I'm having a chat with Hogwarts about Hermione".
"Are you indeed," Percy replied crossing his arms in stern disbelief.
"Yes I am, she is down in the Headmistress office right now and …" Luna stopped mid sentence and turned back to the wall. "She has just fainted you say …and the matron has been called?
"Should I come to the office …not now …why not?
"Well his sister and brother are right here, and Harry must be told.
"Shall I do that for you, or would you prefer to send House elves? Well dear, you are the Castle …so you tell me how I can help." Luna said continuing her odd conversation with a stone wall.
Right then and before Percy had the chance to bring this silliness to an end …there was a loud apparition crack from the area of the instructor's desk, which was the preferred means of sending messages while classes were in secession. Sensing that Miss Lovegood's odd behavior had a direct connection to the message on his desk, Percy bit his tongue and did not issue a detention. Opening the envelope Percy blood ran cold.
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Professor Weasley
Could you please send your sister to my office at once, Mister Potter has also been summoned. I promise to fill you in on the events of this morning at our staff meeting at four this afternoon. But so that you know ahead of the rumor mill, the Countess Hermione Krum has paid us a totally unexpected visit.
Minerva
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Percy knew better than to ask Luna how she knew that Mrs. Krum had entered the Castle. He also knew that all of his students were watching him very closely. So rather than let the cat out of the bag with a general announcement …he walked back over to his sister's desk and simply handed over the note.
Ginny read the note once …and then read it again …utterly gob smacked. "She's really here?"
"Apparently, and if what we both overheard from Miss Lovegood's chat with Hogwarts is correct …the Countess has just fainted," Percy said trying hard to regain his composure. "Also keep in mind Miss Weasley, both the title and the last name of our visitor …as spelled out in the note from the Headmistress. It is entirely possible that our beloved Minister or the World Wizarding Court has settled the Krum dispute in the Bulgarians favor".
"Oh no …they wouldn't?"
"Political corruption, pay-offs for legal decisions, are not limited to the United Kingdom", Percy said with contempt. "The Americas are in far worst shape than we are; it's a place where rich oil companies and Labor unions regularly buy their national legislature. Accepting that as a fact …what makes you think the Bulgarians can't purchase a few votes on the World Court?"
"Then we've lost?"
"I said no such thing," Percy said admonishing his sister. "Prepare for the worse and then if it does not happen, your joy will be all the greater."
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Two hours later
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Hermione's eyes fluttered and then slowly opened, an ever so brief moment of panic shot through her …before she realized that she was wearing clothing. Knowing from long experience that she couldn't be in her Krum Castle tower prison …precisely because of the cloth she felt against her skin, a greatly relived Hermione slowly sat up and tenderly caressed her slightly bulging tummy. A moment later, and no doubt due to the house-elf assigned to watch her sleep, the door to the anteroom when she had slept slowly opened to reveal the form of an old friend …Harry Potter.
"Hermione, are you awake, Dobby just told me that his 'Grangee' was sitting up, Harry said rambling a bit at the sight of one of his best friends.
"Harry shut it …and then come over here and give me a welcome back squeeze."
"Are you sure you want a hug? McGonagall said you looked really frail,"
"Harry James Potter …do what I tell you …right now!" Hermione ordered sharply while trembling in need.
"Now …now old girl," Harry said with a forced laugh as he ever so carefully took Hermione into his arms for an extra tender hug. "We both know that Ron was always better at giving you a cuddle than I was."
"Speaking of Ron …where is he? Is he still upset at me for the mess I made of our engagement? Has he washed his hands of me because I didn't coming back sooner?" Hermione said in a rush indescribably nervous and fearful.
"Hermione, clam-down, Ron isn't here; he didn't come back to Hogwarts after the battle," Harry said in way of comfort. "Do you remember that on the day you left us, Ron threatening Dumbledore and the Hogwarts Board of Governors' with Litigation over their interference with his engagement to you? Well he won, big. However, as part of the settlement beyond the huge pile of gold, Ron was required to submit to a restraining order that would not allow him within two hundred yards of the Castle because old Albus Dumbledore still teaches here."
"Where is he then …when was the last time you saw him. …if he didn't die …was he hurt in the battle?" Hermione rattled off questions franticly. "Viktor tried to tell me at one point that Ron had died during the Hallway Battle, even showed me a mock-copy of the Daily-Prophet with his name listed under killed in action."
"And you believed him?" Harry asked amazed.
"Well no …not really, there was something odd about the entry." Hermione said somewhat mollified at hearing that Ron still lived.
"What tipped you off that what Viktor showed you …was fake?" Harry inquired now very curious.
"His name was spelled correctly in the newspaper" she replied coyly …and after a moment of gob-smacked staring. Harry began to laugh, good, loud and hard, for the first time in weeks. His laughter was clearly contagious as Hermione soon joined in …until her mirth turn into a coughing fit.
"Okay, here's the deal." Harry said when he finally regained his composure. "I flipped a coin with Ginny for the right to fill you in on all that's been happening here since you've been gone …and before you ask …that update will include some information on Ron, such as where he can be found and what he has been doing …"
"…thanks Harry and I hope you're not offended by this, but I didn't come back here to see you or Ginny …my goal was to get back to Ron."
"…Yeah …yeah, that's a no-brainer, Hermione," Harry said. "But before I begin you have to tell me a few things …"
"…for example?" Hermione inquired.
"Why didn't you write to us, we all sent you letters almost every other day?"
"I wasn't allowed," Hermione replied. "Nor did I see anything you sent me. My father-in-law informed me the day I arrived …through an interpreter that my life in England was over and that included all contact with everyone that I knew there".
"How and when did you escape?"
"I didn't …they let me go," Hermione began shocking Harry speechless. "I had tried to escape …more than six times, in fact. With two of the later attempts taking place after they took away all my clothing.
"But in the end …some five days ago …they escorted me …blindfolded, gagged and hogtied …to the Bulgarian border …where without any fanfare they pushed me out of a still moving magical motor-car …with not a Knut in my pocket and only the clothing on my back …real close to the Bulgarian town of Petrich …just inside of Greece."
"Sweet Merlin …Hermione!" Harry shouted horrified.
"I guess they thought I deserved it …after all …I stabbed Viktor three separate times …once almost fatally …not to mention the stabbing of his father, one of his cousins and two of their servants …once each. You could say I didn't bond with my in-laws very well …my dear sweet husband either …come to think on it." Hermione declared bitterly.
"What can I say?" Harry said sad and embarrassed …feeling he had let his friend down.
"There is nothing to say," Hermione said shaking her head in regret. "Castle Krum is almost as big as Hogwarts and it's very heavily warded, inside and without. There is no way you could have found me in that maze. I didn't know where I was half the time, myself. Besides, dear friend …no Baron Krum in their entire history has ever died of natural causes or old age. Each title holder is usually assassinated either by a close family member or one of their abused retainers. The 'lot of them' …are completely paranoid about their personal safety and as a result they never sleep in the same bedroom two nights in a row.
"I was so naive Harry," Hermione sobbed breaking down into tears. "I honestly thought that all I had to do was to convince Viktor that I loved Ron and only Ron, and he'd let me come home. But the Prat didn't listen. I always suspected that Viktor wasn't the sharpest knife in the tray, but he's ruddy brilliant compared to the rest of his family. A bigger bunch of inbreed idiots can't be found outside our own English Ministry of Magic.
"They tried to break me to the bridle, but I refused to submit. They snapped my wand, deprived me of any news from the outside world or more food than it took to keep me barely alive …and they physically beat me …"
"They did WHAT!" Harry shouted.
"They would strip me naked, Harry …and then chain me to a stone wall in their Great Hall and then had me whipped in front of their dinner guests …as an entertainment! I thought the Malfoy's were bad in their treatment of women …but the Krum's in pure barbarity …have them beat hands down. Still in spite of the mistreatment I continued to refuse to submit to my husband's carnal desires like his other empty headed chattel." Hermione spat with contempt.
"I've seen first hand what happens when first cousins marry and reproduce with first cousins for generation after generation. If all the Bulgarian noble houses, have taken blood purity to its maximum extreme as the Krum family have done …and the genetic damage was apparent everywhere I looked …all I can say is that the magical aristocracy of that Country is doomed. Your father's marriage to your Mum would have been illegal in Bulgaria. Even Ron …a pure-blood of common birth, would not have been allowed to waste his seed inside of me, had he been born Bulgarian.
"Then how did you …" Harry began puzzled only to be interrupted.
"…end up married to Viktor, that's simple Harry," Hermione said fighting back tears yet again. "He didn't tell them that I was Muggle-born, he lied to his own parents …who don't speak any language but Bulgarian by the way. Viktor told them that I was of the English magical aristocracy, six generations of witches' and wizards no less.
"And he was caught out?" Harry guessed.
"Yes finally, the family rotated the servants that brought my bread and water, so that I couldn't make a friend who could sneak me out of the Castle," Hermione explained. "About a fortnight ago, I found my food being served by a local squib that spoke a little German. That's when Viktor's lies were exposed and the shite hit the fan. I was then interrogated for hours under Veritaserum by a hired translator. My blood status and common birth were revealed as well as my "girls only" reproductive spell.
It was the last bit that proved to be the straw that broke the camels back," Hermione said with a bittersweet smile. "Apparently Viktor had counted on a pregnancy with a male heir growing inside of me to smooth things over …if his lies about my true nature were exposed prematurely."
"YOU'RE Pregnant"
Yes Harry, very pregnant …about four months along I figure, I've not seen a healer …because too many Krum's have died mysteriously under the care of a so-called 'trusted' healers. But I've missed enough of my monthly friends for it to be an all but certainty. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey knows one way or the other as the headmistress had the Matron examine me after I fainted.
"But if you have Krum's child inside you …" Harry began.
"…I have Viktor's daughter inside me, Harry. In Magical Bulgaria girls are a worthless commodity …except as breeders. Under their magical Law …Girls inherit nothing … not land or businesses, not money …and it is next to impossible for a girl to obtain any kind of noble title except directly through her husband. And remember, I can only bare female children now."
"…I'm surprised they didn't just kill you?" Harry retorted with a sneer
"I'm sure they wanted too," Hermione said smiling big at her friend and reaching out squeezing his hand affectionly. "But then there was that annoying English Boy making such a stink in all the Continual Newspapers about my abduction, if I suddenly turned up dead, a bad international incident would have gotten far worse."
"So I did do some good," Harry said somewhat mollified
"More than you'll ever know." Hermione said with a wickedly evil grin. "The Krum family's only source of dependable income for the last few years has been Viktor's overinflated Quidditch salary. The boycott you arranged against all Bulgarian teams hit the Krum family directly in the pocketbook. The national team and his regular season team both canceled his substantial contracts in a futile attempt to distance themselves from his crime.
"That didn't do them any good" Harry said smugly.
"Viktor was a national treasure before he kidnapped me; his outright cowardness in the face of the Bridal Challenge has ruined his reputation, every day that Ron refuses to drop the challenge, is one day more that the name of Krum is dishonored. My husband's crime, endorsed by the Bulgarian Ministry has been dragging that whole country down through the mud.
"It's really ironic to think about, but it wasn't until after they had dumped me at the side of the road that the idiotic Krum's realized I was their best chance of extracting their family from the mess Viktor got them into."
"How's that?" Harry asked.
"Did you know Harry, that a lust potion only makes the people that ingested it believe they are making love to the person they are really in love with." Hermione declared smugly. "And it was only by the generous applications of Lust potions and the imperious curse that I conceived Viktor's child at all. His attempts to make love to me without them …ended in disaster each and every time …for him.
"You fought him?"
"Tooth and nail," Hermione said proudly.
"So they force fed you lust potions to get you pregnant"
"Yes … the Krum family felt that if I was baring Viktor's child that would end all the international outrage over my kidnapping, but that little plot backfired on Viktor too." Hermione said speaking with total candor.
"Muggle's in unhappy marriages have been known to pretend that the person they are shagging is actually someone else. This effect is also what makes the standard lust potion so affective. Unlike Muggle alcohol or date rape drugs which dulls the senses of the victim to near unconsciousness …a lust potion makes the victim believe they are in bed with someone they actually want to shag.
The unfortunate side-effect of using a lust potion on me from Viktor's perspective …was having him endure hearing me scream out Ron's name in the heat of passion. I'm sure it hurt his pride as a man to hear me call out the name of his rival every time we were intimate. Knowing that he was shagging a drugged senseless girl who'd only responded to him …because I was in a semi-dream trance imagining that I was shagging Ron must have been infuriating."
"That's sick Hermione."
"Tell me about it", Hermione retorted with a snort. "The longer I resisted, the more I called out Ron's name, the more frustrated and angry Viktor became. It became a battle of wills really. Viktor's need to break me to the saddle became all consuming with him. Long after I conceived he continued to force himself on me, but I never gave in …I refused to let him touch me without a fight.
"How can you be so calm about all of this?" Harry asked, "Why aren't you a traumatized basket case by now?"
"My Mum has been wondering the same thing Harry." Hermione said looking down at her hands …tears flowing, "My dad thinks that some people stand up to torture in war better than others. That and I am really …really stubborn. I have nightmares of course, but at least I can talk about it, which my dad says is a really good thing. But mostly I think I'm handling this so well because …in the end …I won. I never gave in to him willingly; big strong Viktor Krum didn't bend me to his will. I take loads of comfort from that.
"Anyway, enough talk about how I was treated. After being dumped on the side of the road I walked to the nearest Greek Village where I had the good luck to stumble across a group of tourists who spoke English. They took me to a phone and I rang-up my Parents at their tooth business. My dad flew into Athens the next day with the same passport I used to visit Viktor a year ago. He drove up to the village near the border with Bulgaria and we then flew back to London the next day. I went straight home, avoiding any contact with our scummy Ministry.
"Smart move".
"I walk into the lounge of my home, and find Albus Dumbledore and the Bulgarian ambassador waiting for my arrival. There wands were on the floor several feet from where they stood …with my dear sweet …wouldn't hurt a fly …Mum staring them down with my dad's loaded and cocked shotgun in her hands …all but daring either one of them to move.
Harry couldn't help but laugh. "What did you do to him?"
OoOoOoOo
"I picked up that old bastards wand and snapped it in two, then picked up the ambassador's and pointed at Albus as said …talk fast old man, give me a reason not to kill you."
"What about legitimacy for the child in you belly." He said, and that did make me pause …I admit it," Hermione declared in barely a whisper.
"What did he offer you?" Harry asked suddenly very worried. "I have the names of several good magical barristers; don't sign anything until they check it out."
"Calm down Harry, you left their calling cards with my dad. He touched them and a moment later, there were four of the best legal sharks in the UK glaring at Dumbledore. They spent the next few days hashing out a settlement and when I decided that I'd had enough …I snuck out of my house to catch the eight P.M. train up here last night."
"Excuse me for being thick about all of this", Harry asked. "But what does Dumbledore in your lounge have to do with you screaming out Ron's name while having sex with Viktor?"
"They are counting on my influence with the fiancée I was stolen from …to bring the mess to an end. I was told that there have been several attempts during the last few months by the Ministry and the Bulgarian legal team to reach a settlement in the kidnapping issue." Hermione said calmly.
Oh yeah, and they've gotten exactly nowhere." Harry snorted with pride
"A financial settlement with my parents in the range of one hundred thousand galleons …was on the table from the Bulgarian Government within days of my kidnapping. But my parents couldn't be bought-off so cheaply. They repeatedly demanded my return to England …a permanent legal and physical separation from Viktor, a guaranteed and very comfortable annual income for life …which isn't bad really" Hermione conceded. "Then when I walked into my home with a bum in the oven, they added the cost of completing my education with private tutors …in light of the law against pregnant girls attending Hogwarts and of course …child support.
"However there still remained one huge roadblock to any settlement …and that barrier was Ron. The Bulgarians appear to be overly eager to put this whole incident behind them, they have agreed to anything my parents proposed without argument, even my undisputed custody of my baby with zero visitation rights by any member of the Krum family.
"The only things the Bulgarian legal teams have insisted on from the get go …was a package deal, which meant my parents had to give their belated legal consent to my marriage to Viktor and Ron had to drop the bridal Challenge. Once that happened, The Krum's barristers could plead 'no contest' to the kidnapping charge, and arrange a community service style punishment for Viktor.
"So the bastard only gets a slap on the wrist?" Said outraged
"And in exchange I get my freedom," Hermione countered.
"That stinks"
"It's the law," Hermione said shrugging her shoulders. "My then legal marriage to him and the accompanying permanent separation order would be submitted and ratified by the World Wizarding Court in Geneva. I would get a substantial monetary settlement in exchange for no future claim by my child on the Krum estate or title and we could all …get on with the rest of our lives."
"Leaving Ron with nothing …holding an empty bag …yet again, isn't that right …Countess?" Harry spat with deep contempt and anger as he abruptly pulled his hand away.
"I was told he will be offered fifty thousand galleons to settle the bridal challenge, Harry. That's a huge pile of gold." Hermione countered somewhat confused at Harry's negative reaction.
"If you think that he said no to a settlement …every single time …in the hope of getting more gold …then …you're a total arse" Harry shouted …jumping to his feet.
"HARRY STOP RIGHT THERE …DON'T YOU DARE JUMP TO THE WRONG CONCLUSION ABOUT ME".
"There is a baby to think about, and in Bulgaria …marriage is for life …with no divorce …just …like …here …in …Magical England. If you think I want to live the rest of my life as Countess Krum you're ruddy mental. I thought Ginny told you about Magical marriage laws when you became dowry-day engaged. Dam it Harry …If I could marry Ron today, I would as fast as you could say 'Bob's you're Uncle', but I can't.
"I'm sorry Hermione, I didn't think it through."
"It's alright, Harry." Hermione said in a resigned tone as she affectionately rubbed her belly unconsciously. "I'm no happier with how my fate turned out …than you are. Sometimes destiny can just …really suck. I just refuse to have my baby pay for her mommy's romantic stupidly!
"But enough about my ruined life …sit back down and tell me what I missed. For example; the heroic poem, Strength on the Stairs, it's about Ron isn't it? But there was no fight on any stairs mentioned in any of the accounts of the Battle of the Hallways in all of the Daily Prophet's back issues …that my parents saved for me and I read …when I got back to England"
"Harry smiled and sat back down, she had figured it out, after all. "Alright …fair is fair, lean back and relax while I tell you of a little know fight against three to one odds between one cowardly ferret …twelve evil Death Eaters …a squib …a Muggle …your farther, Hermione, as a matter of fact. And Luna Lovegood, who was injured early who fought alongside of 'strength' …which in case you didn't know it …is what Ronald means in the dictionary.
OoOoOoOo
Some time later and arm in arm …the two reconciled friends, emerged from the quite room where they had spoken and into the noise and commotion of the headmistresses office. A full blown row was going on. Backed up against a wall with a furious Ginny's wand pressed into his chest was a resigned and unusually quite Albus Dumbledore. Next to him stood the Bulgarian Ambassador doing everything he could …while speaking in French, to convince the former Headmaster to remain silent.
"What news do you bring old man," Ginny snarled at Dumbledore. "you said there was a problem with Hermione, a glitch in some plan or other and you where about to tell us about it …when this Bulgarian Git showed up to shut your pie-hole. Now spill the beans you old goat."
"Ginerva Weasley, step away from Professor Dumbledore and you will also lower your wand at once," Minerva ordered.
"Headmistress …this old bastard is playing games with people lives again, a blind man could see that," Ginny snarled as she stepped back while keeping her wand pointed.
"Oh I know that Mrs. Potter," Minerva said serenely …using Ginny's married name to calm the girl. "In spite of losing an arm, considerable magical power and much of his standing within our community, Professor Dumbledore, still enjoys his little games. However, in this case, I think Albus realizes our zero tolerance for his favorite hobby"
"Minerva are you just going to stand there and allow a student to treat me with such gross disrespect", Albus said deadpan.
"Respect has to be earned Albus and Mrs. Potter is painfully aware that as a teacher your first concern should always be for the students under your care," Minerva calmly explained. "That you are submitting to the Ambassador's request to remain silent rather than pass on important news concerning an English witch, bespeaks to me at least …that your Loyalties still remain with a foreign national instead of your fellow countrymen."
"You just don't see the bigger picture Minerva". Albus said shaking his head sadly.
"And you Sir …seem to forget that you are employed by this school as a full time teacher." Minerva replied her patience running out. "If however you persist in behaving as a diplomat for Bulgaria …let me inform you that the moment the Board of Governors finds a qualified Transfiguration instructor to replace you, I shall release you so that you may pursue a career in international relations."
"Now …now, Minerva …you know my first love has always been teaching,"
"If betrayal of trust and selfishness are subjects that need to be taught, Mr. Dumbledore then indeed there is no-one better in England to teach it than you." Hermione said bitterly entering the conversation.
"It's Professor Dumbledore, Hermione; you forgot to address me by my proper title."
"It's Countess Krum to you, and I didn't forget your title," Hermione snapped back. "The honorific of Professor should only be used with people with honor, as you have none, if I was to address you in such a fashion, I would by doing so …insult Professor McGonagall who is far more worthy of that title than you are."
"Good shot, Hermione, well done." Harry said as he stepped up next to his friend. "Now …Albus, why don't you just tell us what's going on and then Ginny and I can escort Hermione into the village to see Ron."
"I think not Mr. Potter," Minerva said. "You and your fiancée have to grab a quick spot of luncheon …and then catch the remainder of your third period classes with Mrs. Lupin"
"You asked to see me Headmistress?" Neville said entering the office.
"Yes professor, I understand you have this period free today."
"Yes headmistress,"
"Could I again impose on you to escort the Countess Krum into the Village? I think you know which shop she'd like to visit."
Yes Headmistress, That shop usually opens at one on Mondays, and it's a little past that now …I'm sure the shopkeeper is in.
"Very well, that's settled"
"But professor, the news …the problem with the plan," Ginny Protested
"Well Ambassador?" Minerva said turning to face the Bulgarian.
"Recent events in my country have made the settling of the identity of the next Baron of Krum of far Greater urgency than it was yesterday," the Ambassador said with a thick eastern European accent
"But I have a girl growing inside me and under your own law …" Hermione began only to be interrupted.
"…There are certain things going on which I may not speak of and I hope you'll understand that," the Ambassador continued with a bow. "But I can state that Viktor's third wife has been rumored to be with child, with a boy no less. However, your marriage contract Countess, as confirmed by the Bulgarian Ministry, places any issue of yours …ahead of any of Viktor's other wives.
If or when the alleged pregnancy by Viktor's third wife is confirmed back home, and especially if it is male …a legal disaster over the line of succession could easily result. That the daughter in your womb as first in line to the title after Viktor could result in a realistic danger of a lineage assassination attempt from the more traditionalist elements within the Krum family who would not stand for a mere girl coming into the tile.
"But your law doesn't allow girls to inherit titles".
"All laws can be challenged in court, Countess, but up to now no female child has lived long enough to make such a legal challenge …if you understand what I am implying."
"That's barbaric!"
"There are some of us, Countess," The ambassador admitted sadly, "That are trying to change things in Bulgaria and bring my country into the Twentieth Century. We have been looking on with pure envy at the bloodless purge of the magical pure-blood aristocracy from your English Ministry. However, our inbreed nobility are far more entrenched within our government than what I've seen here in the UK.
"Yes I know" Hermione answered
"If I may speak freely Countess?" the Ambassador asked and when Hermione nodded consent …he continued. "The rumor of a possible male heir to the Barony has among other events that accrued in the last few days …made the quick settlement the "Granger incident' as your abduction is referred to legally, a top priority with my government. There are two separate keys to that arrangement; one is the settlement of your concerns, which I hope have now been satisfied. The other key factor is a formal, legally written-out and signed dropping by Mr. Ronald Bilius Weasley of his Bridal Challenge against the Krum Family and by extension the Bulgarian people.
"When you left your home in London to come up here …you left behind the documents that require Mr. Weasleys signature, you have repeated stated to Albus and me …that getting the bridal Challenge dropped was not a problem once you had the chance to speak with Mr. Weasley. The moment his signature is on the document it will instantly port-key to the Bulgarian embassy and your settlement money will be transferred soon thereafter into your Gringotts account.
"You gold-digging …back stabbing bitch," Ginny growled, with unbridled venom in Hermione's direction with Harry looking equally displeased.
"Miss Weasley," Albus said in a frigid tone. "This discussion concerns the safety of an unborn child and its mother, the gold is merely a post settlement form of child support for a Krum daughter. So I would appreciate it if you would remain silent while the adults in the room settle this issue." Harry and Ginny spun around to face the ex-headmaster after that insult with looks of pure hate.
"Albus that will be quite enough, did you lose all your diplomatic skills when you lost your arm," Minerva snarled. "Mr. and Mrs. Potter, your lunch is waiting for you in the conference room to the left of this office, after that …you'll go to class and nowhere else …am I fully understood."
"But professor?" the both pleaded.
"Not another word out of either of you. You've already had your chat with the Countess, Mr. Potter, and Ronald will want his turn for a private chat as well." Minerva said while pointing at the door to her left, "Now go and eat"
"Neville, once they Countess has her document from the ambassador would you escort her to Mr. Weasleys shop". Minerva said as she watched Harry and Ginny leave the room mumbling complaints under their breaths.
"Of course Headmistress", Neville replied with a warm smile at Hermione.
"I would like to go with the Countess if I may." The Ambassador said
"No Sir, you may not." Minerva snapped, somewhat short tempered. "If this matter could have been settled with your presence it would have happened long ago. Leave the Countess Krum to plead her case without your interference. Besides, I'd like to discuss in greater detail how the Countess returned to us, and any abuse she may have suffered while in your countries care."
"Your Government has made no complaint"
"My government doesn't even officially know that she is back in the country, Ambassador …now do they?"
"You're very astute" the ambassador said as he handed over the document and watch Neville and Hermione leave. "Now what would you like to discuss?"
"Recent events on the Continent"
"If I could not speak of them to the Countess, why should I tell you?"
"Would you prefer for me to call a press conference, wherein I and the school nurse can describe the abused and malnourished condition of a clearly tortured and just recently escaped English witch kidnapped by your country?"
"No, of course not," he sighed sitting down. "What do you want to know?"
"Everything," Minerva replied smugly.
OoOoOoOo
To be continued
Post chapter note:
I know this update came quicker than usual …blame the muses that kept me up to 4 A.M. Two fingers typing and inspired
okay ...now a show of hands ...who doesn't know what happens next? it's writing it thats the problem ...this will take a long think ...so stay tuned