Disclosure Hp belongs to JKR. The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux
a/n THANKS for the reviews. To be honest, they are the key to my wanting to write more. A very short chapter, to keep it promise. Too much work today..
How to and a real proposal.
"The point is that only the spouses can go in, wizarding vows are sufficient for this phase. The first going in, can rescue up to the number of the rescue party plus one, the second can bring the added number minus two, and the last, one less than the one before. An example, if three rescuers were admitted through the portal, the first can bring four, the second 2, and the last 1."
Hermione had another question. "By rescuers you mean, the ones just bonded?" Hermione observed the numbers.
"Yes, they are the only ones that will be admitted by the veil. There are other additions and deletions, too many to consider. There is, however, one that seems to be germane. If it isn't a traditional couple, and there are a triad or greater, then they can bring one more person for each extra spouse. Surely, there could be more rules, but the time isn't available to investigate further." Lucius explained, showing what he had written:
-Spouse 1 can bring out 3+1 = 4 people
- Spouse 2 can bring 4-2= 2 people
- Spouse 3 can bring 4-3 = 1 person
-If multiple spouses, then 1 extra person.-
Total possible to rescue = 4+2+1+1extra = 8 People total
If only a couple, then 3+1= 4 people total.
"But maybe I am wrong, we can look at it again." Lucius concluded.
"Oh, twice as many could come out, wow." She had just understood some of the implications, and she felt strange.
"This portal belongs to the Malfoy family so only a Malfoy, or Malfoys can go in, and their spouse(s). There is, however, no restriction of how many spouses one can have. There are a few Malfoy cousins in France, but they are married, except for Henri. I guess, he is Draco's second cousin." Lucius explained.
Draco cringed when Henri was mentioned, giving his father a very nasty and ugly look; they had talked earlier, and Draco had nearly hit him. Henri was very handsome; he was a younger Lucius and them some. Henry had seen pictures of Hermione in the news. He asked Draco to put a good word for him, and they got into a gigantic fight, a scrimmage of sorts, it took several people to stop them. Henry vowed she would be his.
"Oh," she said again.
"Draco, cut it out, it would be a small sacrifice if Henri could be here; we could rescue many more. We are lucky he is presently climbing the Himalayas; don't get upset, but I tried to contact him without much success. It is nearly too late to answer, the nearest point to Portkey is half a day if he flies, add 10 to 14 hour to Portkey if lucky." Lucius continued.
"You contacted him without my consent, " Draco's darkness seeped out his pores, sparks were flashing around him. Lucius closed his eyes, hoping to control his temper. He had already acted, no way to undo it.
"Mr. Malfoy, excuse me for interrupting, but who is Henri," Hermione asked, and Draco made an ugly harrumph sound, clenching his teeth.
"My Cousin Eve's son; he is six years older than Draco, and, ahem," Draco was giving him fiery looks, "Draco dislikes him on a, ahem, personal account. I have no problems with him. We already discussed the possibility, and it makes little sense to introduce more in the mix; ah, hmm, as it is, I am not wanted in the bonding. Draco wants you all for his own. Of course, if you would want to meet Henri, maybe something could be arranged, it would be difficult, maybe two younger wizar—"
Hermione stopped him. She squeezed Lucius's hand a little.
"No, we continue as is, I just wondered, it is well as it is. In any case, I would do anything to rescue more. But Draco, there is no way he will get here." She looked at Draco conciliatory, clearing the air immediately. Both missed Lucius's face; he had done something that would make Draco quite angry. Though there was no way to know if it would work. Looking at Draco, he hoped not.
Lucius continued at Hermione's gesture to do so.
"The ritual will be complicated. Whenever there is one witch, with two Malfoy men, one takes the maidenhead but he cannot spill the seed in her, the second one does. I know it sounds depraved, but Malfoy wizards have shared their spouses for centuries. Miss Granger, are you well, here, here, a deep breath." Lucius stopped to look at her.
"Sorry Mr. Malfoy, I choked in a piece of cheese. Don't smile, it really was cheese. Please continue." Hermione wouldn't look at him.
"Nobody wanted more than one wife in a household, and it was important to keep all the fortune together. If the father's wife died, the magic of the manor would render him impotent, but with his daughter-in-law. That way a second wife couldn't have brought into the fold. If they were two brothers they shared one spouse and so on. That was long ago, things have somehow changed, we think."
Hermione's eyes were the size of saucers, imagining the idea, wasn't just scary, it was mind boggling. In other words, keeping the fortunes intact was worth it.
"Are you saying if we want to get more people out I should bond with the two of you? Is this bonding breakable?"
"Nope, which stinks, because I don't want to share you with father." Draco huffed.
"I know your position son, neither do I want to share Miss Granger with you." Lucius smirked, "But if she allows it, I will."
"What are you saying?" Hermione was alarmed.
"The bond is a marriage of sorts, official marriage would have to occur, but the bonding is forever. For those who didn't marry their bonded, the rescued just vanished as if they never existed. There is a period of two full moons to be married and no contraception for the first three years. New life must be generated; it is the rule." Lucius explained.
"You found all of that in less than a day?" Hermione looked at Lucius suspiciously.
"Yes, it is here; you are welcome to read it; I made copious notes." Whereas the ritual itself is short; the rescue lasts but minutes; it isn't without danger. And we need to get ready a lot of specifics; we also must gather one item from each of the rescued, even a photograph, but clothing items or hair are better; you get the idea. Now for the question," Lucius looked at her; both of them did.
"Are you willing Miss Granger? Since we are the last Malfoys from this Manor, there will be no more rescues for many decades if any. There are too many who deserve a chance, and needless to say we want this with all our hearts. Will you marry both Draco and I, we can discuss arrangements later. We can keep it as close to traditional marriage as much as possible, and he is my son, and I am his father, nothing hidden between us." Lucius ended.
Both wizards went down in one knee, each holding one of her hands.