Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the characters you recognise. They belong to J.K. Rowling. I do own the plot and any up and coming characters you do not recognise. I do not make any profit from the writing of this story it is for entertainment only please do not sue.
An Unwanted Marriage, But an Unexpected Love
Chapter One to Five
Hermione Jean Granger felt a sickening dread, due to the fact she had just received mail delivered by a Ministry owl. Receiving mail from the Ministry had become the worst nightmare to half-blood and muggle-born witches, spanning from the ages ranging from seventeen to forty. A nightmare ever since a year ago when the Minister of magic Cornelius Fudge had passed a new law, a law declaring all muggle-born and half-blood witches had to marry a pureblood wizard.
However the worst part it was not, not by a long shot. No, the worst part was that each witch had a list of adult wizards to choose, a choice of only four wizards. Most of said wizards usually end up being old enough to be the father of said witches. This was of course expected when all the younger wizards were already married or engaged young usually straight out of Hogwarts.
Therefore, if a Wizard over the age of seventeen and not already married or due to marry either come forth of their own accord, placing their name on the list of suitable and eligible bachelors, or they were forced to place their name down, or else they too would suffer the fate of having their magic drained and their wands snapped.
In other words the unmarried pureblood wizards were just as much victims of this law as were the young unmarried muggle-born and half-blood witches. They could not marry another pureblood witch, not less they already had an engagement before the law was enforced. For once, they were not discriminating against the sexes; all witches who were half-blood or muggle-born were on an even level with pureblood wizards.
The only people in the wizarding world that was safe from this new law were half-blood and muggle-born wizards and pureblood witches. This in turn meant those unfortunate to be subjected to the law looked upon the half of the wizarding community unaffected unappreciatively. No matter how you looked at the larger picture the whole situation was by no means fare or based on any form of equality.
The ministry, Fudge in particular, believed due to the war if they did not act now then all magical folk would eventually die out. Muggle-born and half-bloods could only reproduce for so long before future generations started being born squibs. The same problem also concerned the purebloods that refused to mix with those of not pureblood breeding, them especially.
Hermione who was staying at the Weasley's for the remaining month of the holidays before returning to Hogwarts for her seventh and final year cringed and looked to be about to burst into tears as she read the official looking letter. She read the words that would seal her fate along with some wizard this she had no such doubt.
Dear Miss Granger
We the ministry are writing to you to remind you that your eighteenth birthday is due this up and coming month. In regards to this up and coming event you are now eligible for the law that states all muggle-born and half-blood witches of the age of seventeen to forty must marry. We have made a list of four suitable and unmarried suitors as stated below. You will choose one of those four wizards two weeks before your eighteenth birthday. We invite you to attend the Ministry two weeks on Monday morning first thing. If you refuse to comply with this notice and not abide by the law then we will strip you of your magic and exile you from the Wizarding world permanently. Please read the enclosed list of eligible suitors.
Moira Warwick
(Head of the marriage, deaths, and births department)
Hermione felt ill, seriously so in fact. She covered her mouth with her hand and let out a pain-filled sob. Mrs. Weasley pulled her into a comforting embrace as she continued to sob. Ginny Weasley, who sat in her boyfriends lap, none other than Harry Potter, took the letter Hermione had dropped to read the choices her best friend had available to her. She scanned the paper, instantly turning green with revulsion at the second name on the list. Biting back a smirk at the first name, but frowned puzzled at the forth and nodded at last name.
She read aloud, "Your choices Hermione are, first, Sirius Black, second is, Severus Snape, Rupert Greenwell is your third choice, and finally your Fourth is Barty Crouch Junior." Hermione sniffled, glancing up at Sirius who was sitting at the other end of the table next to Remus Lupin and his cousin Tonks. He was eyeing her thoughtfully, desperately hoping she would not see fit to choose him. Not that he had anything against her. No, he just did not feel comfortable marrying one of his godson's best friends.
Hermione shook her head and said, "No offence Sirius, but I cannot choose you. I cannot marry you. You are the godfather of one of my best friends. This whole situation is stressful enough without adding unnecessary tension and awkwardness into the mix." Sirius sighed, a sigh of evident relief. "Oh thank Merlin for that. I have nothing against you Hermione, but you are like the daughter I never had. I just could not bring myself to make you my wife. On top of that, as you have already pointed out, I am the godfather of one of your best and closest friends. It just won't work."
Ginny grimaced, saying, "Well, I guess that leaves you with Snape, Rupert Greenwell, and of course Barty Crouch Junior" she added in an disgusted tone, "Snape, ewe how on earth did he end up considered as an eligible suitor for you of all people, Hermione?" Sirius, Remus, Harry, and Ron choked at the mere thought of Hermione becoming Mrs. Snape. Hermione could not suppress the shudder of displeasure that went through her at the mere thought of kissing Professor Severus Snape, evil potions master extraordinaire.
Remus said, "I and Sirius went to Hogwarts with both Barty and Greenwell. Greenwell was a Hufflepuff. And Barty he was a Gryffindor, while his twin Benjamin Crouch was a Slytherin." Sirius added, "No wonder he went bad and became a death eater. Then he goes and frames Barty, who ends up accused of being a death eater when it is Benjamin pretending to be him all along. And Barty, who didn't and still doesn't have the dark mark, was sent to prison."
Tonks shook her head, letting out a snort of disbelief as she remarked in a bland tone, "Talk about giving the saying an evil twin a whole new and literal meaning. He was Barty's evil twin literately." She went on saying, "It's just shocking to realise one twin remained on the side of the light, while the other didn't. It's just when I think of twins, I cannot help but always envision the likes of Fred and George Weasley."
The others chuckled knowingly at this, the twins in question especially. They knew exactly what she meant. The Weasley twins knew they would die for each other before they even dared think of turning on and betraying someone as good as their other half of a none sexual nature. They were loyal to the other to an absolute fault. No witch, no matter how stunning, or some crazy assed homicidal freak, fruit and nut job of a dark lord with world domination on his mind would come between them.
Sirius added, "Barty is a spitting image of Benjamin, but with better teeth, plus minus the murderous psychotic tendencies and the love of long hair to his shoulders like Benjamin had. Barty was and still is always the more laid back twin." He added around a smirk, "Although just because he is the more laid back of the two does not automatically make him a pushover. No, Barty has one hell of a foul temper when provoked."
Remus nodded, adding, "True, Padfoot. You and James learned that lesson the in a very hard and painful way." He was grinning deviously as he said it, causing Sirius to glower at him. He was sure if James had been alive and present in the room, he too would have been joining him. Remus ignored the less then friendly looks from his long time friend and continued, "But he never went out of his way to inflict that temper on others. He has a temper, but thankfully he is not one of those wizards who have a ridiculously short fuse. Although, when that fuse of his does blow I highly recommend taking immediate cover."
Sirius smirked knowingly, knowing exactly how wise it was to take cover in such a situation. He will never forget the way he learned that hard and very painful lesson. He shook the memory away as he asked Hermione, "So who else was on that list of yours, didn't you mention Greenwell?" Hermione frowned as she asked, "Greenwell, where have I heard that name before. I know I've heard it before, but where?" She let a frustrated noise in the back of her throat when she could not place the correct face with the name.
Remus, who noticed how frustrated she was starting to become told her what she wanted to know. He asked, "Do you remember in your fifth year Hermione when you took your owls?" He added at her silent nod, "Do you remember a young member on the examination board? He was blonde, blue eyed, appeared as if he were not long ago out of Hogwarts himself."
Hermione frowned before her eyes widened in realisation. She looked like she had swallowed something highly sour and foul. She shook her head rapidly and responded with such vehemence, "No, no way. There is absolute no way. No can do." The others were smirking as she shuddered and all but spat, "Good grief, he was like the Hufflepuff equivalent of a Malfoy. If it weren't for the fact he did not have the psycho killer instincts of the Malfoy's he could have been one of them quite easily."
She grimaced as she added, "He was stuck up and acted all high and mighty, acted as if he was god himself. I thought he was going to choke and die due to all of that forced pompous charm. Either that or I would end up dreadfully ill in the end." She concluded, a sarcastic edge to her voice, "So patronizing, it was unreal. I swear the imbecile was terrified of a witch with more than a few brain cells to rub together."
The other burst out laughing, even Molly could not help but chuckle and patted Hermione sympathetically on the back. She really did pity the poor girl. She was just glad her Ginny was not eligible for the law's requirements. The rules and requirements were positively barbaric in Molly Weasley's opinion. Fudge needed a good talking to; the urge to take that man over her knee and tan his hide was overwhelming for the older red-haired witch to swallow.
Hermione shook her head again and said, "And no, I can't marry professor Snape either. I refused to be married to and bare the children of a man who would never respect me, who believes me to be a worthless know it all." She added coldly, "Besides, he is a death eater. Sure, he is spy, yes, but it does not mean I wish to be involved with a man who will constantly be in the shadow of Voldemort. I would never be safe, nor would any children."
Harry commented, "I guess that leaves you with Barty Crouch Junior. I met him at the end of my sixth year; he was at professor Toffty's funeral." He added, "He looks like his brother, in fact they are identical, except his hair was a lot shorter and slightly spiky." He added, "Which is also why I had a problem with being near him to begin with, that is until of course he smiled at me knowingly. His smiled looked truly pained. I think it was he knowing his brothers own actions in his name had shown there consequences again."
Harry sighed, adding, "But as far as his personality goes he is nothing like his brother was. I was strongly reminded of Remus, with a slight edge to him, an edge which reminded me a bit of Sirius, a very much quieter version of Sirius." He shrugged, smirking as he saw the knowing and amused expression on Remus's face, while Sirius mocked glowered at him, sticking his tongue out at his godson, who rolled his eyes in reply. He concluded, "I liked him. He was willing to tell me things about my parents and my aunt, my dad's sister, when he went school with them, Sirius, and Remus. He was really nice about it."
Sirius said to Harry, "He used to be like a brother to your mother and aunt, always stuck by her when neither James, me nor Remus were able to do it." Sirius's voice reflected evident respect. Remus added, "His home life was in fact a lot like Sirius's own, except Barty Crouch senior was not a death eater with a scarily overbearing obsession for the dark arts and pureblood supremacy, just a lousy father and a workaholic."
He paused before adding, "They have so much in common when it came to their siblings." He went on, "Sirius became a Gryffindor and never got along with his brother, who became a Slytherin." He went on after another brief pause, "And Barty he also became a Gryffindor. However, he never detested his twin brother, until our sixth year, and he started acting in ways he had not in the past. And as you can guess he became a Slytherin as well."
Sirius added, "Both of our siblings ended up becoming death eaters. Barty ended up going to prison, whilst his twin paraded as him, blackening, destroying his reputation, his values, his beliefs, what he stood for in short." He continued, "I ended up going to prison because of Peter. In short we both went to prison for crimes we did not commit, we also managed to escape." He explained, "I managed to escape in my Animagus form. Barty, whilst he was sitting in that cell, his powers began to build up; he managed mentally to master wandless magic. He was always the most powerful in our group.
He sighed, "He was somehow strong enough to apparate though the wards. If it had been you Harry who attempted such a thing, I don't doubt that you would have brought the entire prison down to the ground literately." He revealed, "Barty was always a powerful wizard. Not in your league or Albus's, but his power level always managed to outweigh Remus's and mine. Even your father and mother came a very close second to him in the magical strength department."
Sirius finished with a grin as he asked, "Did any of you notice on the Marauders map that not only was there a picture of a stag, a grim, a wolf, and a rat, but also a stallion?" Harry nodded and said, "Yeah, I always wondered about that. Whenever I activated the map the names Prongs, Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail, and also Midnight would show up on the map."
Remus smiled and said, "You all only knew of four of the marauders, you just never knew of the fifth member, except for when you activated the map." He finished, "Midnight was and still is the darkest brown, (almost bordering on black), stallion, hence the name Midnight. Midnight is none other than Barty Crouch Junior."
Hermione smiled and shook her head as she said, "Not only one but two of my supposed suitors were and still are members of the infamous Marauders. Trust my luck." She added with a giggle, "Oh god, if I marry either one of you then I would never be safe, you would be pranking and causing me a headache right left and centre. I'd become as paranoid as Alistair Moody always checking my food and drink, looking for little traps here and there."
The others laughed at this, while Sirius and Remus were nodding knowingly. Remus commented, "Well, actually you would have most likely had that trouble with Sirius or James. Barty and I on the other hand were the less volatile of the group. We were more likely to think before we acted. As for Peter, well, the less said there the better."
The smile left Hermione's face. "I do not want to follow this law, but I refuse to lose my magic and be exiled. So my only other option is to marry Barty Crouch Junior and become Mrs. Crouch." The others looked at her in sympathy. She and other witches and wizards did not deserve any of this. Fudge the pompous fool, his stupid and degrading law was ruining and making a mockery out marriage.
Marriage was supposed to be a bond and commitment between two people who loved each other no matter their sex or sexual orientation. It should not happen because of some discriminative law. It was wrong for one to enter into such a commitment when both parties were not doing so of their own accord. Complete consent and full dedication was how it was supposed to be on both sides. The law destroyed the meaning of pledging one's self through vows and rings to another. The law turned marriage into merely a piece of official looking paper and set of fancy and expensive jewellery. The vows were invalid before the bride and groom would even get around to saying I do.
Three days later Sirius told Hermione he had someone he would like her to meet. It was during breakfast that Sirius changed into Padfoot and led Hermione and the others outside. Hermione stopped short when she saw the most beautiful stallion she had ever seen, standing in the centre of the yard. Hermione smiled brightly in delight.
She slowly walked up to the stallion not realising this was the very same stallion, Midnight, who Sirius and Remus had talked about (with such fondness and respect) three days ago. This meant that if she had been aware, she would not have been so quick to make any kind of physical contact with the stallion in front of her.
Hermione gently patted the stallion's darkest brown almost black silky mane. She marvelled at how beautifully soft its mane was. She knew stallions were wild and unpredictable, but above all they were loyal to the end once you had earned their full and complete trust. She giggled as the stallion nudged her cheek, nuzzling against her gently and playfully. Hermione exclaimed in delight, "Oh, it's beautiful, friendly to, which that in itself is kind of unusual."
Ron grinned, having suddenly caught on to what was happening or more like who that stallion truly was. That was not a real stallion, but in fact an Animagus. He knew no real stallion would have stayed still, nor playfully nudged Hermione like that without hurting her. The real thing was far too wild and unpredictable to react in such a manner or with such gentleness.
Moreover, if he had in fact been the genuine article then Ron was sure it would not have eyes of such a warm shade of brown, said eyes would have not been full of mirth. Ron instantly knew exactly who the wizard whose essence was inside of that form was, had realised the moment Sirius arrived with the stallion in question slowly walking behind him.
Ron rubbed his hands together, a crafty smile lighting up his handsome features. He snuck up behind Hermione when she was not looking. He winked at the stallion, who he could have sworn winked at him in return. Ron quickly lifted Hermione, his laughter ringing throughout the yard when she squealed indignantly.
She exclaimed, "Ronald Weasley, why I never, put me down right this instant, this is entirely unreasonable." Ron replied off handily, "Oh, alright then, if you insist." He then deposited her upon the stallions back. Hermione quickly balanced herself, carefully wrapping her arms around his neck fearfully in case she fell off or he decided he felt like dislodging her from her seated position on his back.
She let out an indignant squeal and reprimanded her mischievous red haired friend. "You have no idea how he will react to having someone placed on his back without warning. It is not fare to go assuming he will not throw me off in retaliation at least not without gaining his trust first. I think I know more about horses then you do, Ronald, thank you very much."
However, because this was not a real stallion but in fact an Animagus, meant he would not throw her off him at least not deliberately anyway. In fact, he actually found her ranting to be highly amusing, she was a fiery one indeed. This was a witch he was certain he could get along with. If only she could be the solution to filling the role of a wife he was required to obtain due to the stupid law of Fudge's. He wonder if that were in fact the case, why else would've Padfoot brought him to meet the fiery lass currently resting on his back.
Before she could get down or continue reprimanding Ron the Stallion began to move in a slow leisurely trot. He figured she was up there already, so why not give her a ride. What harm could it do, apparently she was a fan of horses. It might be a winning factor that worked in his favour after all Hermione tightened her grip slightly as they moved down the yard across the large field, which the Weasley siblings used as a Quidditch pitch. She was not used to riding a stallion, at least of all bareback. Back in the muggle world she was more accustomed to riding on a mare, one in particular, so this was new for her. She just hopped the stunning creature would not react badly to being mounted without warning.
As the stallion continued to move along smoothly, Hermione laughed in delight as Midnight sped up. She was relieved to discover the stallion did not have any immediate plans to dislodge her from her resting place upon his back. She marvelled at how wonderful it felt to feel the summer breeze in her hair and across her face. The joy of riding on such a powerful creature, the creature in question actually let her ride him. She felt privileged and honoured to be riding such a beautiful and stunning creature.
After ten minutes of trotting around the field, Midnight decided it was time to turn back. So he turned around and made his way back towards the Burrow at a gallop, where the others were still watching. He slowed down when they reached the burrow. Hermione was red in the face but there was a look of pure delight upon her beautiful face. She panted, "Oh wow, Sirius, where did you steal this wonderful beast from? I wouldn't mind owning a horse like this."
Padfoot transformed into Sirius, who was smirking in a devious and knowing way. Before he could reply, Hermione let out a startled yelp as the stallion's body began to shift. The shifting instantly alerted her to the fact she had not been riding an actual real stallion. She should have realised this as the real thing would not have been at all accommodating to what Ron had done.
A few moments later a gorgeous, messy brown haired, warm, soft, and deep brown-eyed man of around six feet one inches replaced the stallion Animagus. This in turn caused Hermione to squeal in horrified embarrassment. She clutched his neck and her legs wrapped around his back as she blushed brightly. She found herself wrapped around a man she did not know, had only seen once before, but not spoken. His brother posing as him, who in turn was under a polyjuice potion as Alistair Moody did not count.
She shivered in delight as said man spoke in a delicious Scottish brogue, after giving her a sheepish and apologetic grin, a grin that practically melted Hermione from within from the very spot which she was being held. "He stole said creature from the lovely warmth of his bed actually." He was glaring at Sirius as he set Hermione down on her feet. He crossed his arms over his chest, eyeing a mischievous, smirking, and eye rolling Sirius from between narrowed heart melting brown eyes. The urge to wring the other man's neck was an overwhelming urge he barely resisted following through. The blasted mutt was a menace, an absolutely utter menace.
Sirius replied, humour evident in his tone, "Oh honestly, I got you out of your bed to come and meet the stunning Hermione here" he gestured to a very much-flustered Hermione, who was looking down at her feet. Sirius added with a sly wink in the other man's direction, "I wouldn't be complaining if I was you, you did after all get to have a beautiful young woman ride you, how often has that happened for you in recent times, Barty?"
Hermione spluttered and glared fiercely at Sirius, who was sniggering. She asked between clenched teeth, "Barty, as in Barty Crouch Junior? You mean to tell me you allowed me to ride an Animagus without telling me?" She growled out between clenched teeth, "Oh my god, how could I have been so unbelievably stupid? I should have known something was not right. Not right when Ron was able to approach him without him becoming skittish."
She turned to Barty as she finished, "But most of all the fact you allowed me to ride on your back without gaining your trust first, it should have well and truly set off alarm bells for me. I know, as I've been around horses since I was five years old. No regular breed of horse, muggle or magical would have allowed me to do what I just did and get through the entire experience unscathed."
Barty shrugged and replied, "Nah, don't worry about it. Just consider it a new one for the books." He added chuckling slightly rueful, "Like Padfoot said in his very own warped brand of sense, it is not every day I allow someone to take a ride on my Animagus form. At least you can say you've rode on an Animagus, a stallion at that to." Sirius opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off with hearty glares from both Hermione and Barty. Barty ground out between clenched teeth. "She rode on Midnight, not me, as in leisurely entertainment not something sexual. You have a filthy one tracked mind. And for Merlin's sake quit your damn leering you flee bitten and mangy mutt, Padfoot."
Remus patted Barty on the back as he told him laughingly, "Oh come on, honestly Midnight he did this even when we were in school. You should be used to his brand of filthy warped sense of humour by now." Barty sighed and replied, "Yeah, Moony I am, but she can't be no more than sixteen, seventeen at the most. She shouldn't have to hear such crap" he gestured to Hermione. Hermione spoke up, telling him, "I'm seventeen actually; I'll be eighteen at the end of the month, which is where you come in if you agree."
Barty raised an eyebrow questioningly, "What do you mean where I come in and if I agree to what exactly?" he asked curiously. Hermione replied, "Fudge's pathetic and degrading marriage law of course. You are one of my supposed suitors, or at least potential suitors. I am a muggle born, which means this blasted law applies to me just as much as it does you." She added at his knowing look, "And I was still trying to decided when I was planning on sending you an owl asking to meet so we could discuss our current circumstances. I wanted to meet you first to see if you would accept my offer. I guess Sirius beat me to it, you're already here."
Molly spoke up realising how awkward this was going to be if they continued to have that discuss out in the yard in front of everyone else. "Have you eaten yet?" Barty turned to Mrs. Weasley and replied, "Ah, no actually I never got the chance Mrs. Weasley." He added, "This mangy mutt dragged me out of bed and threw my clothes at me before I could even shave, never mind eat" he pointed at Sirius with a glare. He continued glowering at the other man all the while, "And whatever charitable feels I felt towards sly old Padfoot went straight out of the window when he woke me up bouncing up and down in his Animagus form." He continued to rant, "He wouldn't stop making a god awful howling sound until I gave in, leaving my bed just so he would cease that infernal howling and the windows of Crouch manor would not shatter."
A few of the others snigger at hearing the last part, Hermione included. Sirius on the other hand shot Barty a less then loving glance for is backhanded comment about Padfoot's howling causing the windows to shatter. Barty did not bat a mere eyelid, he could honestly care less about any indignation his fellow Marauder felt about his singing and the several windows of Crouch's corner.
He growled, his accent starting to sound thicker in his irritation, "Blasted flea bitten, mangy mutt. I've been up all night finishing off brewing orders for some of my regular customers. I'm a potions Master for those of you who weren't aware of this." He concluded yawning, "I wouldn't have minded, but I had been in bed less than three hours due to working on those potions orders that have been flowing in by the absolute monstrosity of a load lately. Then you made your annoying presence known." He sent Sirius another less then loving glance. Barty was surely feeling less then charitable right then. Barty had trouble functioning on less than six hours sleep, never mind less than three when he had been up all night due to work. Coffee was necessary before he could stand to be within in five feet of any kind of human contact.
Mrs. Weasley sighed and shook her head in disapproval at Sirius, who gave off an innocent expression as if to say, 'What, who me, what did I do?' Remus could not help but chuckle. Trust Padfoot to be fool enough to invoke the wrath of both Midnight and Molly Weasley at the same time, only Padfoot would do this and still have the utter guts to look innocent about it. Mrs. Weasley turned her gaze back to Barty and said, "Nonsense, call me Molly. If what I suspect is going to happen does actually happen then you'll be seeing a lot more of me." She turned to the others and said, "Alright everyone, breakfast will be ready in fifteen minutes. So find something to entertain yourselves with in the meantime."
She turned back to Sirius before heading back inside of the Burrow. "Oh and Sirius, please for Merlin's sake, do try not to get up to anything underhanded in the next fifteen minutes or else I'll leave you to starve." She added over her shoulder, ignoring Sirius indignant yelp, "Hey!" "Oh, and Hermione dear perhaps you should go and get that letter from the ministry and then show it to Barty before breakfast." Hermione nodded as Mrs. Weasley went in doors to finish making breakfast.
Hermione handed the parchment to Barty. He frowned as he read through its contents. He then nodded and handed the letter back to Hermione. He explained to her, "I put my name forth a few weeks back. I had to. I'm in my mid thirties, Hermione." He sneered, "If I hadn't come forth of my own accord then that pompous ass-hat, Fudge, he would have tried to force marriage upon me or strip me of my magic and snap my wand."
He added coldly, "I refuse to allow this to happen not after being born a pureblood wizard and have been so for thirty odd years. It is my birthright, I won't give it up." He added in a less cold tone, "I need a wife Hermione. The Crouch bloodline needs to continue, and I'm the only Crouch left who is able to produce an heir." He sighed as he continued, "My father is dead, murdered by my twin brother out of hatred and spite. As for my twin brother he is rotting away soulless in Azkaban. So naturally that only leaves me."
He suddenly grimaced and said, "Severus Snape?" he shook his head in disbelief. He had remembered reading his name as one of the eligible suitors. He shuddered and exclaimed in disgust. "Even at Hogwarts he was a greasy bastard and looked like he'd been in a round of fisty cuffs one time too many for his noses likening. I hated everything about him right down to his hideously hooked nose, pale skin, and long greasy hair." He snorted, "We never did get along. The fact for the whole seven years of my time at Hogwarts I was a head of him in DADA, Arithmancy, Potions and Charms." He added shaking his head, "Even though he had the knowledge of all that dark arts material and he became a potions master; I still beat the greasy prick hands down."
Hermione added, "I suspect the fact you were a Gryffindor, and also one of the best friends of James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Lily Evans, and of course one fifth of the original Marauders did not help, did it?" Barty shook his head and told her, "I have one thing in common with him and one thing only. Even that is one thing far too many for my taste. I am a potions master. That is where the similarities begin and end."
Hermione asked, "Well, how come your hair is not all greasy and limp like his is?" Barty smirked and replied, "His hair is too long, which he never bothers to tie it back when he should." He continued in a deadpan tone, "I'm honestly surprised Snape hasn't blown himself up yet. With his hair the way it is, you'd think strands of it would end up in his cauldron, worse the pity." He added with a devious smirk, "And I suspect he'd scream and writher and die if his hair came into contact with any shampoo of any description. Merlin, I could never tolerate my hair becoming that rank."
He went on, gesturing to his own hair, "I am a potions master hence the short hair. A profession with a cauldron and long hair is not a pretty combination as Snape has proven." He concluded, "Bloody idiot needs to tie his hair back. I don't honestly know how he has avoided screwing up whatever potion he makes due to his hair being all over the place."
They both turned when they heard several amused sniggers from behind them. Ron commented, "I like him, I like how he thinks. You're mad if you don't marry him, trust me." Harry added with a smile, "And he is not so hard on the eyes is he Hermione, admit it? And he is a potions master, you love potions, you want to be a potions mistress. A match made in heaven by Merlin." He added, "Plus he is a Marauder and has a cool kickass Animagus form, like come on he is a stallion."
Ginny added round a smirk, "Why Harry, should I be worried? If I didn't know any better I'd say you're just itching to marry him yourself." She smirked all the wider, "And you like him because he knew your parents and aunt and can give you a whole different perspective on them compared to what Sirius and Remus have already given you."
Barty laughed as he watched Harry glare at her playfully. He was reminded of James and Lily. Harry was a male version of his mother, whilst Ginny was a female version of James. She had James personality and eye colour, whilst Harry had Lily's. It was truly amazing and also painful to watch. He missed those two so much that sometimes it was unbearable.
Barty turned to Hermione and said, "Pass me back that parchment please." Hermione nodded and handed it to him. He scanned the list that held his name as well as Sirius's, much to his amusement. He scanned down to the third name before his own. "Ah, Rupert Greenwell, ex-Hufflepuff and now a member of the examination board for the owls and newts. The bloody ass thinks he's god. Bloody hell, how they possible think you could ever be compatible with that little snot-nosed ass-hat is way beyond me." He smirked as he added, "From what I've heard of your intelligence and personality from Sirius, you'd eat the tosser alive." He sniggered, "I guess he's okay if you're the type of witch who likes her wizard to bore her to distraction and possible illness from his overly forced pompous charm."
He concluded, "And the fact he looks like a Malfoy does him no favours what so ever. Damn, poor kids, your intelligence would surely be overshadowed by his pompous nature. You're far too fiery and independent for the likes of him. Idiot wants a wife who cannot think for herself, a wife who only has an interest in gossiping and going shopping, planning when she is going to be spending all of his earned galleons."
Ginny and Hermione were suddenly overcome with hysterical giggles. Ginny gasped out between giggles, "Oh god, Hermione you have so got to marry this guy, trust me. He is perfect for you, he even thinks like you do. Plus there are all of the good points Harry said as well. Trust me he is your only option if you want to get through this whole process and still maintain your sanity."
Barty frowned, "What do you mean and what did I say?" Sirius and Remus chose to enter the living room right then. Remus asked, "What is so funny?" Barty shrugged, "I mentioned what I thought of Rupert Greenwell. Then these two start giggling like they were hit with several tickling charms."
Harry told Sirius and Remus, "He commented on what he truly thought of Rupert Greenwell. The term ass-hat was mentioned also. What he said struck the girls as funny I guess. And of course they are girls, so giggling is a part of their DNA. I will say this, he did make some brilliant points, insulting, hilarious, but still no less true."
Sirius asked, "Exactly what did you say?" Barty replied, "Only that Greenwell was ok if you were the type of witch who liked your wizard to bore you to distraction and possible illness with his overly forced pompous charm." He concluded shrugging, "And that he looks like a Malfoy did him no favours. And of course any kids they had would have her intelligence overshadowed by his pompous nature. And finally Greenwell is the type who wants a wife who cannot think for herself, who only has interest in gossip and where she plans to spend his earned galleons next."
Sirius and Remus chuckled and Sirius explained, "A few days ago when Hermione first received the letter from the ministry and saw Greenwell's name, she accused him of his overly pompous charm. That he acted all high and mighty as if he thought he was god." Remus added, "And that she feared he would choke on said forced pompous charm, or she'd be ill. That he could have been a Malfoy, without the psychotic killer nature. Finally, that she also found him to be patronizing and claimed he feared any witch with enough brain cells to rub together."
Barty laughed as Hermione wiped way her tears of mirth, "It is true. I never would have said so otherwise. He is irritating and more then I could tolerate. If I had his children I honestly think they would be taught the ways of a pompous prick at birth. And I definitely do not have any of the qualities that Greenwell's ideal wife apparently must have."
Ron commented, "You two are seriously alike. She wants to be a potions mistress, you are a potions master. She is first in the school in all of her subject, apart from DADA. And yeah, she's right, it there is one thing Hermione does well besides studying, it is thinking for herself. And she is definitely no gossip either."
Barty asked, "Yes, from what Sirius said Hermione definitely does not match up to Greenwell's ideal wife." He added, asking, "So who is beating her to the top spot in DADA?" Harry sighed, "That would be me last time I checked. I had no idea until Hermione pointed it out when we got our test results for our owls and the results from our sixth year exams."
Barty smiled and said, "That's a sure inheritance from your father that is. He even beat me in both the owls and newts, I came second to him and Snape was third and Remus fourth." Harry asked, "What about my mum and Sirius, and aunt?" Barty replied, "Sirius was sixth, your mother was fifth and your aunt seventh. We were the top seven in the whole school. And we were all Gryffindor, apart from Snape."
Molly called out, "Breakfast is ready, come along you lot before the twins eat all of it." Ron yelped, "They better not, I'm starving." Ginny snorted, "Oh please, give me a break, when aren't you starving? You've got a stomach like a bottomless pit." They all burst out laughing, while Ron blushed, grumbling something less then flattering under his breath.
Hermione glared at the floor of the main lobby of the Ministry of magic as a security guard checked their wands. Barty and Sirius exchanged nervous glances. Hermione looked about ready to murder something or someone. They decided to keep a distance between themselves and her, they not wanting to end up on the receiving end of her rage.
Once their wands were returned to them they waited for the elevator. Moments later the elevator arrived with a ding. They watched as the doors open and a piece of parchment flew out and went in the opposite direction. They stepped inside the elevator and Barty pressed the button for the floor they required. Once the doors closed all was silent apart from the sound of a female voice announcing the different floors as they stopped and allowed others to get on and off the elevator. Once the elevator stopped on their floor they reluctantly stepped out into a waiting area, Hermione, she being reluctant more so then her male companions.
Hermione spoke to the receptionist, who appeared as if she would much rather be reading the latest issue of witch weekly then being behind a desk and sorting through appointments and other such documents. Hermione drummed her long French manicured fingernails impatiently upon the edge of the desk. The receptionist looked up annoyed. She asked, "Yes, and what can I do for you miss?"
Hermione replied uninterestedly, "I have an appointment with the minister of magic in regards to the law that states all muggle-born and half-blood witches must be married. I unfortunately am one of those individuals which said law applies to." The receptionist suddenly looked sympathetically at Hermione and asked, "And your name please." Hermione replied, "Miss Hermione Jean Granger."
The receptionist typed something on her keyboard, before nodding, "ok. Minister Fudge, Sirius Black, Barty Crouch Junior, Severus Snape, and Rupert Greenwell are expecting you. Please go to room 110, it is the last door on the left." She then turned to Barty and Sirius. "And do you two have appointments?" Barty smirked slightly and replied, "I am Barty Crouch Junior and am here with Miss Granger." Sirius added, "And I am Sirius Black and am also here with Miss Granger."
The receptionist's eyes widened slightly. She turned to Hermione and asked surprised, "You arrived with two of your possible suitors?" It was now Hermione's turn to smirk. She replied, "Of course, it's rather handy that one of said suitors is the godfather to one of my best friends." She added her smirk growing wider, "And of course other said suitor is friends with the first suitor. Rather interesting isn't it?"
The receptionist merely shook her head and gestured for them to head down to Fudge's office. When the three had turned and made their way down the long corridor they exchanged amused and knowing smirks. Hermione took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Hermione opened the door when Fudge's pompous voice called out, "Enter."
She entered followed by Barty and Sirius. Barty and Sirius glared when they saw Snape, who returned the glare just as heatedly. Hermione warned, "Don't start you two, he is not worth it" both Barty and Sirius pouted like chastised little school boys, while Snape favoured her with a withering glare, which Hermione returned by a tenfold.
Fudge fidgeted uncomfortably in his large high back chair. Things were becoming a hell of a lot more heated for his likening. He gestured for Hermione, Barty and Sirius to take a seat each. They did so, Barty and Sirius sitting on either side of her. Fudge cleared his throat and began. "I am certain you are all aware of the reason as to why I asked you all here today."
Hermione spoke up, her voice like ice, "We are here to marry me off, being the cause of some pathetic law that is discriminative to half-blood, muggle-born witches, and Pureblood wizards. I most certainly do not see any pure-blooded witches or half-blood and muggle-born wizards being forced into marriages to someone that is not of her or his own choosing in less be stripped of their magic and exiled." Hermione was glaring heatedly at Fudge who swallowed nervously and fingered the collar of his shirt, before scrubbing his hand across his face.
Barty and Sirius had to stifle their smirks of pure wicked glee. She was getting to him; all she had done was merely speak, this was far too precious for words. Fudge was about to piss his pants there and then. Even Snape was amused, but his amusement was based on his disdain for Fudge and not because of what Hermione was doing to cause Fudge's discomfort.
Fudge cleared his throat and spoke avoiding what Hermione had said, making her silently seethe. She made a point of not hiding her anger. "Anyway" Fudge went on, "We are here because Miss Granger being a muggle-born is required to marry a pureblood wizard of the Ministries choosing. And of course you four fine wizards are requiring to find a wife."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "Miss Granger you have four suitable suitors to choose from and if you fail to choose on your own then one of the four will be chosen by me personally and you shall marry him." He added at her look of pure hatred and disgusted disdain aimed right at him. "And if you refuse then you know already that you'll be stripped of your magic, your wand destroyed and disposed of. And lastly you will be exiled from the wizarding world indefinitely. The same rule applies to the other four of you also."
Hermione looked positively murderous; her face was a violent shade of red from her red hot seething rage. Everyone moved nervously in their chairs as the air crackled slightly with her suppressed magic and boiling rage. Her knuckles were white from her brutal grip she was subjecting the arms of the chair to. Barty and Sirius exchanged a grimace, knowing she was about to reap hell on Fudge. Those four wizards wouldn't mind getting in on a piece of the action as well, Barty, Sirius and Snape more so then Greenwell.
Hermione spoke in a tone of voice chilly enough to freeze even Jack Frost to the very core. "I have already made my decision Minister" the word Minister was said dripping with pure undisguised disdain. "I choose Barty Crouch Junior." She added, "I do not agree to this law, in fact I hold it in immense disdain. But the fact of the matter is that the wizarding world is my home. My magic is a part of me; I was born with said magic. I shall not give it up Minister."
They all turned to face Barty, all except Hermione and Sirius. Barty merely raised his chin and shot Fudge a pointed look. Fudge sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose and asked, "And your reasons Miss Granger for choosing Mr. Crouch." Hermione replied, "He is the only decent one here besides Sirius, whom I'd consider a worthy husband." She went on, "I choose Barty and not Sirius because I have no romantic feelings for him and I never shall either. He is like a second father to me. Plus he is after all the godfather of one of my closest and best male friends." She went on, "As for Mr. Greenwell. I and he have already met; he was one of the examiners when I took my owls. I assure you I most certainly was not impressed in the least."
She looked pointedly at Greenwell, her look indignant, "He acts like he is important, and who should constantly be the centre of attention. I do not wish to be married to man of that nature seeing as there is no such thing as a divorce here in the wizarding world thank you very much, that would be torture." Barty and Sirius openly snorted, while Snape and even Fudge looked hard pressed to not follow suit and snort as well at the horrified and puce coloured face of Greenwell.
Hermione then choose to knock the final nail in the proverbial coffin. "And as for Professor Severus Snape, that is exactly what he is, my professor. I cannot marry my teacher. I also cannot and point blank refuse to marry a man who holds me in such disdain and distaste. My name and the term respect do not compute with Severus Snape." She added, "Whatever children I and he could have possibly ever had together would have grown up to despise both I and he and themselves. They would have surely grown up in a verbal battle zone laced with disdain between their parents. That is not a suitable environment for children to be subjected to and to grow up in healthily."
Snape snorted and smirked cynically. "That Miss Granger probably made more sense than anything I have ever heard come out of your know it all mouth." He finished, "And as much as it deeply pains me to admit, I do believe you and I actually agree upon something for once and for the last time ever, I do not doubt." Hermione sneered, "My sentiments precisely professor." Hermione's lower lip curled in a silent snarl, causing Snape to sit back and smirk in genuine amusement.
He commented truthfully, "If you were not an irritable and blasted know it all you would make a worthy match and wife Miss Granger. But as it is, you are that irritable and blasted know it all." He added, "I do not like you, but you have my respect Miss Granger. I do not have to like you to have somewhat begrudging respect for you." Hermione nodded and replied, "I dislike you also, but I respect you as a professor and a highly capable potions master, but nothing more and nothing less."
Fudge clapped his hands together and commented, "Ok then. It is official; you Miss Ganger on the day of your eighteenth birthday must marry Mr. Barty Crouch Junior. I shall need the two of you to sign some papers." He added, "I shall attend the ceremony to prove that the marriage has taken place. Whom do you intend to have conduct this ceremony?" Hermione replied instantly without a moment's hesitation, "Albus Dumbledore Headmaster of Hogwarts." Barty nodded his head in full and complete agreement. Fudge nodded and replied, "Good. Now that is settled I shall need you to sign the documents I mentioned earlier on. I shall keep a copy and you two shall be given a copy of your own each."
He then turned to Sirius and said, "Seeing as you are still available I have another young witch, a half-blood in fact, who still requires a husband. She has refused all four suitors, meaning it is my choice now." He continued, "Her name is Sara-Jane Lily Delaney; she has just turned eighteen a week ago. She is due to attend her last year at Hogwarts. She is a member of the house of Gryffindor."
Hermione sighed and said, "I know Sara-Jane, she is one of the girls who sleeps in my dorm, or at least she did until I got rewarded with head girl status." Hermione turned to Sirius and smiled, "she is also one of my best friends. She is very pretty. Long spine length wavy blonde hair, with eyes a similar shade of green to Harry's." She finished, "She is around five foot five inches and is very slender. You might even like her, she has a sweet easy going nature and always up for a laugh."
Fudge said, "I shall send for her. She now has no choice in the matter if she wishes to remain a witch and stay in the wizarding world." Hermione glared at Fudge, while Sirius sighed sympathetically. He really truly did pity those poor girls. The fact this whole law was based on the fact said girls were not purebloods disgusted and made Sirius's pureblood boil. Then there was the fact he was just as much at risk of meeting the same unfortunate fate as those witches. Never before had he regretted ever being born a pureblood wizard, at least until now that is. He hated Fudge for putting him in this position, forcing him to marry before he had even wanted to.
Fudge tapped his wand on top of a small speaker box on his desk and said, "Marina please will you send someone to fetch Miss Delaney from the down stairs lobby, her presence is required immediately." The receptionist replied, "Certainly sir, I shall send someone to fetch her right away." And with that Fudge tapped the box with his wand once more.
Fifteen minutes later there was a knock on the door. Fudge called out to the person on the other side of the door, "Enter." Seconds later the door opened to reveal Sara-Jane Delaney. She reluctantly closed the door behind her. Sirius's eyes were instantly drawn to her own. She returned his gaze with equal intensity. She was the first to break eye contact and stare down at the floor, her cheeks flushed brightly.
The exchanged was not lost on anyone in the room, even Fudge took full notice. He let out the breath he did not realise he had been holding. This could prove to be easier than he had first thought. Fudge gestured for her to take the free seat next to Sirius. She did, and that was when she noticed Hermione. She smiled weakly and said, "Hermione?" Hermione nodded in reply.
Fudge cleared his throat and said. "Miss Delaney, seeing as you refused all the suitors represented to you, I am now choosing for you." He added in a no nonsense tone, "If you do not marry I shall be forced to strip you of your magic. Then destroy your wand and permanently exile your from the wizarding world. None of that will happen if you cooperate."
Sara-Jane felt bitter angry tears sting her eyes. She replied between clenched teeth, "This is utterly barbaric. This is the twentieth century; I thought such customs and requirements were generally a thing of the past that only the really old pure-blooded families still participated in." She could not help but let a few unshed tears full down her cheeks. She angrily spat, "I and thousands of other witches are being judged and subjected to discrimination due to the fact were lack supposed precious and all high and mighty pureblood." She added, "If that weren't enough, then you had to go and add the same rules and threat to pureblood wizards to."
She sneered and allowed her lower lip to curl in an angry snarl. She thumped her fist angrily against the arms of the chair. She then leaned back in said chair she had just physically taken her anger out upon. She was clearly seething and shaking with barely controlled rage. This was barbaric, a complete and utter discard of justice, for what was right.
Snape sneered and eyed Sara-Jane with disgust, "Simpering disrespectful little girls. It's ridiculous." Sara-Jane turned to face Snape and glared venomously and all but barked, "SHUT THE BLOODY HELL UP YOU BITTER TWISTED GREASY JACKASS." Snape had to be restrained by Greenwell whom was a lot stronger then he looked. Snape was beyond livid. "HOW DARE YOU BAD MOUTH ME AND DISRESPECT ME, YOU INSOLENT FOUL LITTLE BRAT" Snape bellowed.
Sara-Jane all but screamed, "I'LL DO WHAT I DAMN WELL PLEASE PROFESSOR, WE ARE NOT AT HOGWARTS. WE ARE NOT IN YOUR PRESIOUS AND SMELLY DEPRESSING AND DAMP DUNGEONS. YOU CAN NOT GIVE ME DETENTION OR TAKE POINTS FROM MY HOUSE. HENCE THE FACT WE CURRENTLY ARE NOT AT HOGWARTS."
Sirius was in awe. He liked her already. Hermione and Barty saw the grin and nod of approval from Sirius. Sara-Jane had won her soon to be fiancée's approval by angrily degrading Snape. Snape was seething as he and Sara-Jane shot deadly venom coated daggers at each other. Fudge barked, "ENOUGH. NOW IS NEITHER THE TIME NOR THE PLACE FOR THIS."
He turned to Snape and commented coolly. "And professor, please do restrain you from making any further comments. That whole situation could have been prevented if you had chosen not to have spoken and provoked Miss Delaney." Snape spat, "Wipe that dam smirk off of your face Black." Sirius turned to Snape and he simply smirked, all the wider, causing Snape to grit his teeth and clench his fists.
Fudge spoke up before a full scale argument or a round of fisty cuffs could break out between Sirius and Snape. "You Miss Delaney will Marry Mr. Sirius Black on the same day Miss Granger is to be married to Mr. Barty Crouch Junior. I wish to witness both weddings, so I have proof they have taken place."
He added, "And whom do you wish to conduct your ceremony?" Sara-Jane sighed defeated, knowing there was no way out of this in less lose her magic and be exiled from a world she had come to know as her home. She replied with a heavy sigh, "Albus Dumbledore." Sirius nodded, "I'm ok with that. Besides it makes sense seeing as Hermione and Barty are going to ask him to conduct their own ceremony."
He added with a delighted and beaming smile, "I have no objection whatsoever. A woman who is capable of letting loose on Snape in such a fashion and looks incredible whilst doing it, she will make me one hell of a wife. She has got my full approval." Sara-Jane flushed in pleasure. It seems her soon to be husband shared her hatred for Snape. That definitely earned him valuable points with her. Maybe this would not be so bad after all.
"FUCK YOU BLACK, YOU MANGY FLEA BITTEN MUTT!" Snape all but barked enraged. This caused Sirius to cackle with laughter. He commented sarcastically, "No thanks, I'll pass if it's all the same to you. I'd rather shag Voldemort then go anywhere near your hind, you greasy bastard."
Snape howled with rage and had to be restrained by Greenwell, whilst Sirius sat back with a look of pure undisguised sadistic glee. He looked like the cat that ate the canary. Hermione swore she saw him blow off an imaginary feather from his upper lip.
When they left Fudge's office, Sara-Jane asked Sirius if he would like to meet her mother. Sirius sighed, and figured he might as well meet the mother in law to be, it was only polite he supposed. When Sara-Jane led them over to her mother, Barty and Sirius realised they knew who Sara-Jane's mother was, Stephanie Delaney, formally known as Ashworth when she attended Hogwarts with them. She was an older replica of Sara-Jane, only with hazel eyes instead green, which they presumed Sara-Jane must have gotten from her father.
Stephanie's eyes widened "Barty, Sirius? What on earth are you two doing here? It has been a long while since we last saw each other." Sirius refused to meet her eyes, while Barty grimaced. Stephanie knew what that meant, from spending the last two years of school hanging out with the two of them.
Sirius felt ill, Stephanie would surely hex his ass into oblivion. He was horrified, beyond horrified. Sara-Jane was the daughter of one of his old school friends. This was not good, not bloody good at all. Barty grimaced. He felt bad for Sirius. Oh boy was Stephanie going to bust his balls and hex him to death. Yes, he really did pity Sirius at that moment. 'Poor bastard, Padfoot' was his current thought.
Stephanie asked "Alright what have the two of you gone and done this time? I've just seen the two of you again after almost seventeen year's, and after less then five minutes the two of you have already gone and done something you shouldn't have." She sounded exasperated, as she rolled her eyes at them. Sirius winced and said "Don't bust my balls over this, but if you insist there is always Fudge's. This is entirely his fault after all. He is the one who came up with a stupid discriminative law." He added cringing as hazel eyes narrowed. "Because you married a muggle, and mostly because Fudge is a prick in the truest sense, he is forcing Sara-Jane to marry me in two weeks time."
Before she could hex him into next month, he held up his hands and quickly explained "It is not my fault it's fudge's. Plus you're the one who married a bloody muggle, so don't bloody blame this shit on me." He added "Because Sara-Jane refused the four suitors provided, Fudge insisted he was now within every right to choose for her. And I'm it; I'm what he has chosen." He finished "If she does not marry me, your daughter will be stripped of her magic, her wand destroyed and disposed of. Then finally she would be exiled from the wizarding world indefinitely, with no option of ever returning. He added "Is that what you would like too happen Stephanie? Because it bloody well will if she doesn't marry me?"
Barty added quickly what he saw Stephanie was fuming, and looked to be on the verge of reaching for her wand and hexing Sirius to death. "He is not the only one. And your daughter is not the only one this law applies to. It applies to thousands of other young witches, even pureblood wizards, who over the age of twenty five, and are not married, which means me and Sirius." He gestured to Hermione "For example she is one of those unfortunate individuals. She is a muggle born. And she has also agreed to marry me."
Hermione spoke up when she saw Barty was now also subjected to Stephanie's glare. "Mrs. Delaney. Neither Barty or Sirius are to blame for this whole unfortunate mess." She added gently, but also firmly and a hint of steel in her voice. "If you must blame someone, then I highly recommend you go to the main source, that being Cornelius Fudge. He is the one whom decided to play god with other people's lives. He is the one who fancies him self as cupid, a very pompous and disdainful re-addition of cupid that is."
Hermione added "Besides, your daughter could do so much worse. If you put aside the fact he is old enough to be her father, then you have a very good looking man, with a heart of gold." She smiled "And I suppose with older men, they would know how to treat us with respect, unlike those hormonally charged teenage boys. Boy's who would rather lead us too their beds, and then dump us, dump us as if we are yesterday's news and garbage, as soon as they've taken what they wanted from us."
Sara-Jane smirked "Yeah and I wonder if it's true what they say about older men. Better stamina and more experience in interesting and unexplored areas, if you get my meaning." She waggled her eyes brows suggestively at Hermione, who laughed. "Sara-Jane Lily Delaney" her mother yelped scandalised. Barty and Sirius on the other hand smirked, and shook their heads in amusement.
Sara-Jane asked innocently "What? I'm only telling the truth. Whether you like it or not mum, I am going to lose certain and innocent qualities sooner or later." She added "I would rather know that I am going to be respected and treated right when the time comes for me to give my self to my husband. Unlike a teenage boy, who would probably shoot his load no sooner then he had gotten it up."She added "Besides I have no intentions of losing my virginity in a smelly cob web infested broom cupboard, due to the worthless fumbling of a hormonally and lustfully charged idiot, whose best friends are his zits and his left hand."
It was now Barty and Sirius's turn to laugh. Stephanie could not help but smile slightly. She knew her daughter was right, as much as she hated to admit it. She remembered the days when a teenage boy could not look her in the eye, but at her breasts instead. Or how said teenage boys would take you for a fumble in a smelly and dusty broom cupboard. Sirius commented between chuckles "Ah, now they were the days, when you could get one of the Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws in the nearest broom cupboard after hours, and get them to put out for you." He added smirking "And the risk of getting caught was more likely to happen. It adds to the thrill."
Barty laughed knowingly. Remembering how Sirius would take great pleasure in boasting. He on the other hand was only with one girl, and only once. It had been Stephanie. He and she had lost their virginity to each other. Wanting it to be with someone who respected them, but at the same time wasn't likely to fall in love with the other. It had only made him and her much closer and better friends, instead of making things awkward between them.
Hermione grimaced and wrinkled her nose in disgust "Something's just don't change. I knew I had to draw the line when Seamus Finnegan tried to get me to enter a broom cupboard with him." She grinned evilly "I think it took several hours for Madam Pomfrey to remove all of those boils and hexed scorched marks, serves him bloody right to." Sara-Jane returned the grin. "And I hexed Malfoy junior so bad, that he got an erection every time he looked at a teacher. That little ferret never crossed me again, or called me a filthy half blood."
Hermione laughed "Oh god, I'll never forget Snape's face when Malfoy got all hard in front of him. I thought he was going to have an aneurism. It will stay with me till the day I die." Sara-Jane cackled "Then there was professor McGonagall. She gave him a detention for a week with the care taker, washing the bed pans in the hospital wing without magic. She also took fifty points from Slytherin." Hermione finished "And told him to use his mentality to cool off, that she was old enough to be his grandmother, and that he should be deeply ashamed of himself." Barty, Sirius and Stephanie burst out laughing. They had to leave the ministry before someone complained about their loud up roar of laughter.
Outside the ministry Sirius commented "Looks listen, Steph. I'm not going to hurt or disrespect your daughter. I don't approve of this law anymore then you do. But the fact of the matter is I need a wife to continue on the Black bloodline." He added "I want my name to stand for something worth while, not because it is associated with Voldemort." He concluded "Also, if I don't marry, I'll be made to suffer the same fate as Sara-Jane. It is not just witches whose magic and birth right is under attack here."
Barty added "As for me, I need a wife too, and for the same reasons as Sirius. Plus I am the only one left who can continue on the family Crouch bloodline. My father is hardly able, as both he and my mother are dead. And Benjamin, well, he's hardly any use, when you consider he is rotting away in a prison cell in Azkaban, without his soul." He concluded "I will not disrespect Hermione. I'm not going to marry her, only to turn her into one of those mindless trophy wives, whose only purpose is to caterer to her husbands every need. And to stand or sit there looking pretty and nothing more."
Stephanie looked down at her hands ashamed. She knew both Sirius and Barty better then that. She should have never doubted them in the first place. They were just as much a victim as Hermione and Sara-Jane. She apologised for accusing them of doing those, or thinking them capable of such things. They accepted her apology, and the subject was dropped, as they were all starting to feel more then a little bit pissed off.
