THC

Round 4

Ravenclaw, DADA

Golden Era

Married (can be romantic)

IWSC

Practice Round Two: Dolores Umbridge

Theme Five: Discovery

[Pairing - romantic] Dolores Umbridge/Cornelius Fudge

WC: 1004

Thank you, Bea and Mikado, for betaing

Dolores and Cornelius

In the beginning, it had been nothing more than an arrangement that suited them both. Cornelius had needed a way to launder the money he had received from friends at the Ministry, and Dolores offered to serve her Minister in any way. She wasn't doing this for the money; Dolores was doing it for justice. She couldn't let Dumbledore's spoiled brats get away with everything, especially not the girl from unfortunate circumstances. And so they signed the marriage certificate.

They got married in secrecy in a small Muggle-village next to the village where her father was from. No one from their world was supposed to know about it. Dolores would from then on receive the monetary 'gifts' of her 'husband' and convert it into the Muggle currency to lose the trace. Cornelius could then access his funds from their shared bank account. All in all, it was a system both simple and beautiful.

Cornelius didn't stay in charge for long, and their life together began to change. While Dolores went to work, her 'husband' took up a hobby or two. At first, it was knitting. One evening, she came home from work to find a needle up her butt and colored wool spread out throughout her neatly organized and arranged flat. Then it was pottery. Dolores couldn't say she was more pleased to find dirt in her home.

Eventually, they settled into a routine without driving each other insane. Dolores kept her job and control over the Ministry while Cornelius found joy in his new role as househusband. In the beginning, it was hard for her to not hex him for not cleaning after himself properly, but as the months went by, Cornelius became quite good at his new job.

Stepping out of the marble fireplace, Dolores wiped the remnants of ash from her pink tweed jacket. The smell of freshly baked cookies welcomed her home. She hung her bag on the hanger and went looking for her husband.

Cornelius was stirring tomato sauce with a wooden spoon. He stuffed his tool into the generous pocket of his apron and with his hands on her shoulders, he leaned forward and kissed both her cheeks.

Warmth filled her already full cheeks. She thought she had gotten used to their new-found domesticity, but recently Dolores found her heart racing when she thought about going home. She didn't think too much about it; it was an interesting time after all.

Dolores pulled out the black sheets of cloth. Werewolves and other filth were roaming the streets looting and maraudering. She had hoped that with proper leadership, they would have learned their place, but it was necessary to purge the world of Dumbledore's terrorists first before they could tackle society's vermin.

While she finished blacking out the windows, Cornelius lit candles and set the table for the two of them. Once there was no more light coming through, the two of them sat down.

Dolores was toying with her food waiting for her husband to take the first bite. She was starving but didn't want him to see her wolfing down her meal too quickly. It wasn't something proper ladies did, her mother had always warned.

Their eyes met, and they just looked at each other for a long while. Cornelius gave her a soft smile. Her heart was jumping against her chest. Was she having a heart attack? They slowly ate half a tortellini, their eyes never leaving the others.

"Do you like it?" Cornelius asked.

Her throat was oddly constricted. All she could do was nod, as she reached out for her glass of wine. The warmth radiating from the candle was almost burning her cheeks. Or was it the alcohol?

"I know we've been living together for some time now," he started, "but I want to tell you that I'm enjoying this… partnership a lot."

Her fingers were fidgeting with the crochet tablecloth. Dolores was used to dominating the room, but now she was lost for words. She was stressed and beats of sweat were forming on her temple. With a napting, she wiped it off without ruining her makeup.

Cornelius laid his cutlery down and moved closer to her. He looked her deep into her eyes and placed his flat hand on her knee.

Shivers went through her spine as his hand slowly traveled up her thigh. Her heart skipped a beat and her eyes fell shut. Instinctively, she leaned against him.

With his other hand he petted her plump cheeks. "Since it's only the two of us, don't you think it's time to move our relationship to the next level?"

A simple 'yes' escaped her hoarse throat. Dolores was sweaty and cold at the same time. She placed her hand into his. This was it, they were moving things into a new direction.

He smiled like a cat who got the cream. Leaning forward, he brushed his lips against hers. Soft moans escaped her lips. They kissed again and again. She slobbered all over his face and he pinched her under skin fat.

From outside, screams interrupted their candle light dinner. Dolores didn't mind it though. There was something satisfying about the knowledge that the filth that was roaming the streets would finally get what they deserved.

A part of her wanted to peek out and see what was going on, but a proper lady wouldn't abandon her man alone at the table. He may have no longer been the Minister, but he still had her undivided attention.

She placed her hand on the table and Cornelius reached out. Their meaty fingers interlocked and their eyes met. She stretched her grip around him. They were already married and now that their relationship had stopped being purely professional, she had no intention of ever letting him go, not now that she had her claws around him.

Smiling at each other they finished their meal in peace regardless of what was going on outside the blocked windows. It was a fun time to be alive.