Prison sentences and political platforms

Hermione tries to figure out how to spend more time with Tom before he goes to prison. A certain young Snatcher is discussed as a potential boyfriend/husband for our dear Hermione. That damn flaming chicken makes another appearance!

"I can't do it, Scabior, I just can't do it. I can't send him to prison. I know he killed Harry's parents. I know he needs punishment but I can't do it! I've only just met him. How can I give him up so soon?" Hermione was laying on her bed with Scabior. He stroked her hair back behind her ear.

"I'm sorry, darling. I know, if it was me and Fen, I couldn't bear to put him in prison." Scabior pulled her close. "Listen, you could, maybe, let who was that they were talking about, Shacklebolt? He could decide your dad's sentence and you could decide the rest of them? I mean, it's not the best solution but it might be the only way?"

Hermione sighed. "Yeah, that might be the best course of action. But I just wanted a little more time with him before I lose him."

"Well, why not do all that other stuff first and leave the prison sentences, all of them, until last. That way, you'll get to work with him for a while." Scabior looked at her, head cocked and eyes wide.

"Hmmm, you know what. That would actually work. We could get the reforms in place, get the schools up and running. That's a great idea! It might even help him. If the Wizarding world saw the good he'd be doing, they might not give him a very severe sentence." Hermione snuggled into his arms, determined to present the idea to Tom the next time they worked on the treaty. After lunch, he had called a private meeting. Harry had joined Draco and the other Slytherins for a game of pickup Quidditch. Hermione had opted to take a nap and Scabior had come along to keep her company.

"So, I was thinking of staying in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade for a while before I go home to the wolf pack. Would you be up for giving a country wolf a tour sometime, once the treaty and everything is settled?" he teased her.

"Of course, I will. As soon as it's ok to go back out, we'll go on a full tour of the Alley. When we go back to Hogwarts, we can go all over Hogsmeade. I'll be a seventh year then and we don't have to wait for Hogsmeade weekends, you know." She reached up to stroke the red braid of hair. He sank his hand into her hair and leaned over her, watching her closely. She tugged the braid, bringing him lower. He dropped until their foreheads touched. She pushed him over on his back. He pulled her against him.

Her hair fell around them as she leaned down and pecked him gently on the cheek. He pushed up on his elbows, nuzzling the side of her throat. "You smell so good, beautiful." She arched back slightly and sighed. He flipped them back over and pressed down on her. "Is your dad going to kill me if I kiss you?"

"No, he won't. I won't let him kill you." It was all the encouragement he needed to hear. It started out as a gentle press of lips and quickly grew heated. They lost track of time as one kiss turned into a make out session.

Down at the Quidditch pitch, Harry and Draco were circling in the air. Between them, Blaise, Marcus, Aidan and the wolf pups, they had enough players to make two teams. Dolohov and the Lestrange brothers also joined in on the game once the meeting was over with. Tom, Lucius, Severus and Fenrir watched them play from the stands.

"We have some very exceptional Quidditch players, don't we?" Tom asked. The three nodded in agreement. "We must make sure they are all noticed by the talent scouts and recruiters." Lucius and Severus smiled proudly as they watched their Slytherins fly through the air. Tom leaned towards Fen. "So how is young Scabior adjusting to the outside world?"

"He's doing very well, except when he's around Hermione. Then he turns into a little playground bully, chasing after the little girl he likes." Fen laughed as he shook his head. Tom threw back his head, laughing heartily. The two fathers were glad their children had, at least, acknowledged each other.

"I'm sure he's breaking through her defenses." Tom said slowly. "Have you thought of a mate for the boy?"

Fenrir considered the question. This line of questioning was going just the way he'd thought. That first day at the Manor, right before he sent them after the girl, Tom had already been asking him about Scabior. "Wolves usually pick their own mates. It will sometimes take years but there are others who find their mates extremely young. I found my first mate when I was twenty five but she wasn't my true mate. That's why I was able to send her on her way. Mary, now Mary is a different story. I'm seventy five years old. She's still little more than a pup. I still can't believe she actually let me court her in the first place. If I were to go back and find her gone, it would kill me. If I ever found her with another wolf, I'd kill them both, then die of a broken heart."

He stopped talking and looked at Tom. "But I don't think Scabior will have much trouble finding his mate. From what I heard around camp and from Mary, the boy is more than a little experienced. And he's already acting like a mated wolf. Right up till we caught Hermione and her friends, that boy was catting around with every female who looked at him. Since Hermione, he's not looked at ANYONE else."

Tom smiled. That was what he'd been hoping for, that Scabior and Hermione would take notice and fall for each other. It was working just the way he'd wanted it to. This way, she'd still have someone there for her when he went to prison.

"This might sound strange since I've only found her but I'm glad the two of them are getting close. I want her to have a good support system around her. I know she's dreading it but I have to do the right thing. It's only right that I serve time for my crimes. I cannot ask Bellatrix, Rod, Rabastan and Antonin to go back to Azkaban and finish their time, at the same time, keeping myself scot-free. That's just unacceptable. If I'd never known I had a daughter, I would have selfishly done that but I want to be good, for her sake. I want to show her I can be a good dad. I can take any punishment that is meted out but I can't lose her, Fen, I cannot lose her." Tom's eyes were haunted with the memories of his past actions.

Fen clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, rest assured, my friend. Hermione will have all the support that I can give her. I'll gladly watch over your child, Tom."

Up in the air, Draco and Harry were also talking about Scabior. "Oi, Potter, you reckon Hermione will hook up with that Snatcher?"

"I hope she does. She really likes him and he seems like he likes her, too." Harry said.

Draco laughed. "If the way they fight has anything to do with it, they REALLY like each other." Clearly, he was still remembering the row they'd had over a Phoenix vs a chicken! Harry laughed at the memory of Hermione chasing Scabior around trying to brain him!

"She does get fired up, doesn't she?" he asked. They circled lazily, watching for the Snitch.

"You know, Weasley doesn't know what he's missing. Pansy and the girls say if Hermione has any kids with the Snatcher, they'll be little heartbreakers because they're both so gorgeous." Draco told him.

"I believe it! She'd have trouble believing you. The other girls who mocked her in school took care of that. Not even Viktor Krum asking her to the Yule Ball gave her any confidence in her looks. I'm hoping he doesn't use her and dump her." Harry said.

"He won't do that, Potter. He is seriously into her. He wouldn't be following her around like a puppy if he didn't like her." Draco assured him. They'd both watched Scabior trail Hermione out of the dining room earlier.

Narcissa and Bellatrix were in the sitting room of Narcissa's suite. "So, what do you think about the little Snatcher boy and the Dark Lord's daughter? Are they a good match?" Bella asked Narcissa.

"Yes. They are. She can counter his impulsiveness and hot temper. He can keep her on her toes." Narcissa replied. "I hope, if they decide to marry, that I get to help plan their wedding."

"Do you think Hermione will trust Tom enough to bring her mother back soon? I know Tom is dying to ask her but he's afraid she'll think it's just a trick to hurt her and her mother." Bells said.

Narcissa shrugged. "I hope she'll trust him soon but who knows?"

Scabior and Hermione finally came up for air. Looking at the clock on her nightstand, they realized it was close to supper time. They decided it might be best to join everyone now before they really lost control. Hermione pulled Scabior out the door and down the stairs. Halfway down, he grinned mischievously. Looking at him sideways, she started smiling. "Just what are you up to?"

"You know, I just realized I'm starving. I'm really in the mood for some flaming chicken!" he teased.

"It's NOT flaming chicken. It's not a chicken." She yelped. He laughed as he jumped the rest of the steps to get away from her. She shrieked as she ran after him. Narcissa and Bellatrix ran into the hallway, in time to see them dash outside. The young Snatcher was cackling happily as he once again chanted "Flaming chicken, flaming chicken!" Hermione was screaming incoherently as she snatched up the first big limb she came to and began chasing him again. The two women burst into laughter, watching them race around the yard.

The Quidditch players came back just in time to see the spectacle play out again. Tom and Fenrir fell against the wall, laughing, and face palmed as they watched their nearly grown children act like playground rivals, again.