There has been very little added to this chapter, mainly just description of the Fairy Falls and some edits because I had been out in the sun a lot at a cross country meet. (This is why my awesome chair needs an umbrella, or as it has been suggested a man servant with a frond. I'm looking into it.) And I think I forgot the mention Hermione and Viktor's vows come from Karen Moning. They are the druid binding vows from her romance novels.
Chapter 25
The following week passed in the blink of an eye. Training for the next season began for Viktor and Harry. Hermione met with each test couple, examining their runes and reviewing their fertility tracking. Thursday, Kreacher insisted Hermione allow him to clean the Haven for the upcoming reception. The Krums and the Granger would be staying there from Thursday night on. The last to arrive was Viktor's brother's family. They flooed from the Ministry to the Haven.
"Hermione, you remember my brother, Anton, this is his wife, Viera, and their son, Riva."
"Hello, handsome," she cooed taking the baby from his mother. "I think you're my favorite, don't tell anyone."
Viktor protested, taking his nephew from her, "No fair replacing me with a younger man." He held the baby up level with his face, "You have to get your own wife." Everyone laughed. "Do not worry, you have famous aunt and uncle, that will help."
Anton took his son back, "Ignore him, Riva, you won't need his help."
Britta laughed, "Yeah, all you need is Hermione's." Both brothers playfully glared at their younger sister.
Nikolina looked over to Helen, "Sometimes I think we should have stopped at one."
"On the other hand, Hermione had no one to stand by her like this until she turned eleven."
"I suppose there is that."
Viktor smiled at everyone, "I am taking tomorrow off. Martin and I are taking Tate and Anton to golf. You will love." All four men looked excited.
"You will have them back by 6 pm or I will jinx your clubs." Hermione firmly told her father.
"No worries, pumpkin. We won't linger. I just want to show off my in-laws."
"I understand, but no lingering for drinks and cigars."
"You take all the fun out of this."
"Don't plan your trips when we have important events," she retorted.
Martin looked at his wife who responded, "Don't you drag me into this, your daughter has been very clear, she will not allow golf to make her a part-time widow."
"You could pretend to be on my side," he grumbled.
"I could, but that isn't as much fun as you'd think." She kissed his cheek. "You'll live, I promise."
At exactly 6 pm Friday evening the male Krums and Martin Granger popped into the front parlor of Haven. Helen kissed her husband in greeting, "Cutting it close there, my love. Hermione has been looking at old jinxes."
"I'm sure she has. Magic is wonderful, isn't it."
"It can be. Come on, you can help hold items to be charmed into portkeys."
"The magic teleportation things?"
"Yes."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at Viktor, "By 6 pm you said. Cutting it rather close."
He kissed her forehead, "And now we will finish portkeys, while you go relax." She mock glared at him, "Now, shoo, beauty rest and all that."
"You have your bathing instructions for the morning?"
"Hanging in the bathroom, ready to go."
"I love you."
"Love you, too. I'll see you in the morning."
Saturday morning Nevena and Sigurd arrived at the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. While Nevena prepared the circle, Sigurd convinced local authorities a historical group was scheduled to demonstrate ancient marriage rites as part of an education program. "Not period costumes, mind you, just the actual ritual. Very exciting. Takes place at noon. You should advertise." He left his usual confusion in his wake. "All set with the muggles," he reported proudly.
"You mean you talked them in circles and left them bewildered," Nevena replied.
"Yes, they won't interfere."
Nevena selected a flat area leaving plenty of space between the circle and the walking trail. She arranged the circle before the shimmering bright blue pool, ensuring the waterfalls framed it from the background, and that the rocky Black Cillins mountains. Eight pillars of white water cascaded over the low cliff. She agreed with Hermione, she, too, found the location enchanting. The ledge of the waterfall stood only a few meters high keeping the roar of the water minimal. Hermione had shone them the taller, louder, falls, citing that for the reason why she wanted the best known pool for the ceremony. "I know we would have more privacy further up, but this one really is the best." Nevena suspected the pools would be seeing more wedding ceremonies in the future.
The sun reached its zenith signaling the beginning. Wedding guests surrounded the circle with curious tourists mingled amongst them. Nevena stood at the southern point of the area. "Enter those wishing to bind their lives and souls as one." Hermione approached from the east and Viktor from the west. They grinned at each other in their own little world. "Step into the circle and join hands professing your love and trust."
Viktor took her hands in his, I enter here in perfect love and perfect trust."
She kissed him and repeated, "I enter here in perfect love and perfect trust."
Nevena nodded, "Place your right hand over Viktor's heart and give him your vow."
Hermione beamed up at her husband and reached up to cover his heart with her hand, "If aught must be lost, will be my honor for yours. If one must be forsaken, will be my soul for yours. Should death come anon, will be my life yours. I am given."
Nevena grinned at the silver light outlining her hand. "Viktor, cover Hermione's heart with your right hand and give her your vow." As he repeated the words the magical outline glowed gold, at the end, it flashed white. "You have chosen to bind yourselves in this life and the next. Remember to nurture your bond and keep it well. I close this circle and send you forth as more than when you entered." More softly she added, "Congratulations, my girl, on a splendid rite."
Hermione hugged her mentor, "Thank you." The redhead nodded back.
Discreetly, the magical guests slipped away to collect and activate their portkeys. Nevena and Hermione fielded questions from the curious muggles. Eventually, they managed to break away and return to the Haven and the waiting celebration.
Vanko stood and raised his glass, "A toast to my son and his beautiful bride, "Today my family gains three more wonderful members, welcome. Thank you for accepting us into your family, as well. May we add more members soon."
"Like they have a choice," yelled George to everyone's amusement.
"To Viktor and Hermione," Vanko yelled.
"Viktor and Hermione," chimed everyone else.
In honor of Viktor's heritage the dancing, that evening included several horo dances. While not as graceful as her in-laws, Hermione participated, laughing the entire time. She looked across the circle and watched her friends enjoying themselves. Five years after a war, and in the midst of being forced to marry practical strangers, they were finding moments of happiness.
Hermione rolled her eyes at the ridiculous headlines about the ceremony at the Fairy Pools. While most publications were somewhat complimentary if exaggerated, the Daily Prophet once again showed itself to be lower than even muggle tabloids. In three separate articles, they called her a fame seeker, gold digger, and implied the ritual would ensure multiple births to quickly end their arrangement. Now, instead of going with Harry to buy a suit for his wedding, she was meeting her solicitor at the Ministry.
Simeon Banks greeted her with a grim nod and fell in behind her. He greatly respected his client, and a Hermione loaded for bear was an entertaining Hermione for everyone but the bear. Together they made their way into the legal offices. Banks paused to remove five packets from his briefcase. He handed them to Hermione, who reviewed them, signed them, and handed them back. Banks stepped up to the reception desk, "Hello, there, we are here to file these petitions." He passed the files to the clerk. "And I'm ready to enter myself for the plaintiff, thank you."
"You want to sue Barnabas Cuffe, Miras Phlaras, Dempster Wiggleswade, and Rita Skeeter for libel?"
"And the Daily Prophet for defamation of character and libel."
"For crimes going back to 1994?"
"Yes," Hermione took pity on the girl. "Just file the papers. It will all be okay, I promise. Well, for you anyway."
"Of course, right away." The girl scurried away.
On the way back to the floo bank she asked, "How long?"
"A few hours at the most." Banks laughed, "What's the least you will settle for?"
"Admission they all concocted the ritual idea without verifying anything like that existed. Each of them, in separate articles, including the editor, publish their confessions. An admission that the editor has let Skeeter terrorize people without little to no fact-checking, regardless of their age, unless they were powerful and wealthy. He has to confess he knew has always known what she was doing and that he didn't care as long as it sold papers. And last, they and the Prophet are not allowed to report on me or my children, directly or indirectly. My husband may only be mentioned in the sports section, in reference to actual match performance."
"Ever?"
"Policy to be review at my discretion."
"That seems less bloodthirsty than I expected you would settle for." Banks admitted.
"I'm a realist, Mr. Banks, this is something they will agree to save themselves."
"You have more planned."
"I will not dignify that statement with a response."
"That isn't a no."
"It isn't a yes."
"That also isn't a no."
"Good day, Simeon," she replied flooing away.
Deciding it would be next to impossible to locate Harry and Ron in London, she headed to the Burrow. She could spend some time with Molly outside of her cooking lessons if no one else was about. She brushed off the soot, "Hello, any Weasley home?"
"Mione?" Ginny popped her head out of the kitchen. "I thought you were shopping with the boys."
"I have come to the realization, I cannot tolerate the Daily Prophet's inability to fact check any longer. Skeeter and her ilk are about to give me enough rope to hang them. But setting that up meant missing the boys."
"So, you're free?"
"Yes, unless you're going to make me look at identical colors and pick between them. In that case, I have a million things I need to be doing."
Ginny laughed, "I just started picking the one on the left. Mum hasn't caught on yet, and Theo doesn't care. No, I want to go wedding dress shopping without Mum."
"Really?"
"Not like pick the dress shopping. I want to peruse the racks so to speak and decide what I want and don't want, without Mum trying to impose her opinion."
"If you know what you want it'll be easier to keep her from taking over." Hermione agreed.
"I love her, but if given an inch, she goes for a mile."
"I think it comes from having to wrangle seven children, two of which were the Twins."
"Probably, so want to do reconnaissance with me?"
"What kind of maid of honor would I be if I said no?"
"A poor one." Linking arms in the manner of young girls, they headed out to spend the day together.
Around 3 pm, Hermione's mobile chirped. She flipped it open and read the text. "Excuse me, Gin, I need to return this call."
"Do what you need to."
Hermione dialed the number, "This is Hermione Krum."
"Mrs. Krum, the solicitor for the Prophet reached out to me. The journalists and editor agreed to your terms. Their apologies so to speak will be published tomorrow."
"Insist on seeing them before printing. It has to include those exact statements."
"Certainly," Banks sounded insulted, "this isn't my first broom ride."
"Excellent. I look forward to their confessions. Thanks, Simeon."
"You're welcome, Hermione."
She snapped her mobile closed. She turned to Ginny, "What?"
"You look like the cat that caught the canary."
"Nothing so physical, but I think it is rather that more like the canary catching the cat."
Ginny laughed, "On to more pressing matters, what do you think about this?" She spread out a bright white strapless dress.
"Have you considered a not white dress?"
"Like what?"
"I think mint green would go amazing with your coloring. It won't wash you out like white does. And you're quirky enough to pull it off."
"Maybe."
"Tell you what, let's make an appointment to come back with your mum to look at them exclusively."
"Has anyone ever told you how brilliant you are?"
"Often, really," they laughed, "but I insist on using my powers for good."
"Lucky for us, really." Ginny giggled and started towards the front desk to make the arrangements. Hermione followed her slowly looking around the racks, browsing as she went.
"If you go with the mint dress have you considered bridesmaids' dresses?"
"I have you and Fleur, so it needs to be something that looks good for both of you."
"Perhaps the same dress in complimentary colors?"
"You have something in mind, show me," commanded Ginny.
"Just the colors, a buttercup yellow for me, and deep blush pink for Fleur."
"I love it. Start looking, I'll see if she's free." The redhead rushed out of the shop, while Hermione moved further into the racks. Fifteen minutes later Ginny returned with her stunning blonde sister-in-law in tow. "Just find a dress style you like, we can charm the colors ourselves."
Fleur located the satin Grecian style one-shoulder dress. She dragged Hermione to collect her size and together they disappeared into the fitting rooms. A series of charms later Fleur emerged in a pink dress perfectly charmed for her complexion, it was brighter than Hermione's suggestion of blush, closer to a ballet slipper, but better complemented Hermione's brighter yellow. "What do you think?" Ginny asked excitedly.
"Cherie, it does not matter what we think, what do you think?"
"I love them, but I want you to like them, too. You both made sure your bridesmaid's dresses were beautiful for the bridesmaids, I want the same thing."
Hermione laughed, "So, you don't think we look good? Because I think we both look proper fit."
"Oui." Both women looked at the bride.
"You do."
"So these are the dresses?"
"Yes!"
"Well, that's settled." Fleur smiled. "When are we coming back for your dress?"
"Thursday. It will help distract Mum from Ron being so busy putting the finishing touches on his wedding."
"Very sweet of you," Fleur told her.
"Though she has enjoyed using Hermione's muggle solution for others. She waits until the other women get into full panic mode, then mentions the idea of procuring the products from the other side, a market not being overloaded at that moment. I think getting to feel useful is helping."
"So will taking you dress shopping," Hermione said.
After reading the retractions and admissions of guilt in the Prophet the next morning Hermione hummed while she finished her breakfast. "What did you do?" Harry demanded.
"Huh?" she noticed the newspaper in his hand. "Oh, that. I got tired of the Prophet pretending they can just make things up to generate sales. I threatened to sue."
"And that's it?" Harry pushed.
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"Because that isn't enough of a punishment, to have to say they were wrong."
"They also can't report about me or my children in any fashion. And I am about to be a very big story."
"Sure, what else are you doing?" He asked in an even tone.
"Why do you think I'm doing anything else?" she replied innocently.
"I know you."
She kissed his cheek, "Then you should already know what I am going to do."
Viktor laughed, "She's going to turn in the unregistered animagnus."
"She's been warned. Repeatedly. Saying that I used a ritual to have multiple births, implying that I am keeping it from the public is the last straw."
"I thought the last straw was again calling you fame seeker and gold digger," Viktor remarked. "Though to be honest you are more famous than me and possible wealthier."
"Your family's net worth is what they are more interested in." She shrugged, "Well, I'm off to make people cry."
"Have fun," Viktor kissed her farewell.
"Stay safe training." She told both of them.
She resumed humming as she made her way through the Ministry towards the auror's offices. She couldn't help herself, she felt almost giddy on some level. She reasoned that was her inner child excited to be getting revenge on a bully at long last. She approached the desk inside the office. "Auror Goldstein, please."
The young man stared up at her, his eyes growing wider once he realized who was standing before him. "At once, Mistress Krum." He jumped up to notify Goldstein.
"Mistress Krum, what can I do for you this morning?" Anthony Goldstein smiled at her.
"I wish to report an illegal animagnus."
"That's a serious charge."
"Isn't it? I had kept my silence, but this person has been abusing her abilities for decades, and I just can't keep my silence anymore. She is becoming reckless and irresponsible. And her employer admitted he knows what she's doing."
"Who?" he asked vainly attempting to repress his curiosity.
"Rita Skeeter. She turns into a beetle. Haven't you ever wondered where she gets her scoops, the stories no one should have any knowledge of, well the ones she doesn't fabricate completely?"
"Do you have any proof?"
"Pensive memories. And as part of the investigation, you can force her to transform." She clapped her hands on her thighs, "I leave this in your hands. Also, in print this morning, Barnabus Cuffe admitted he knows what she's been up to and doesn't care as long as papers sell. I don't know if that is a criminal offense, but everyone should keep that in mind." She smiled and left the office humming.
Neville and Hannah's ceremony marked the beginning of two different life-altering events. The beginning of Neville and Hannah's life together, and the beginning of Hermione's fertility experiment. Each couple had fully charged their runes and had determined the best night to conduct their individual rites. "I never believed I would say this, but I am so glad to have a marathon of weddings to distract me," she admitted to Viktor one night. "I don't know who's more nervous, them or me."
"Possibly you, they are no worse off, you might be back to the drawing board."
"You're suppose to lie and tell me everything will work out."
"That sounds like the opposite of what you would want."
She rolled her eyes, "Sadly, you're right. I would be annoyed if you said that."
He kissed her forehead, "Get some sleep, sunshine."
