The new student- 8
Hermione sat at her desk grading papers. The recent absence of Samuel had given her some time to think. Was she really serious about doing this with Severus, being his parenting co-partner? It seemed a really major thing to do for someone who used to, at one time, delight in tormenting her. She was certain that there was more too this. Too many things didn't add up, she didn't trust them or the situation. She turned to the one sorce of information that was always reliable. She owled Dumbledore.
"Are you interested in him?"
"Well I had a crush on him at school and I never really let that go, but I never really let the Harry thing go either."
"Well I can assure you that Severus is straight. He had something of a reputation back in school. The real argument that led to the werewolf episode was about Lilly and her, um ... connection to Severus. Don't press it I'm not telling you any more. Anyway, the thing was that he and Lucinda were really meant for each other, if it hadn't have been for Voldemort they would probably still be together." Hermione gave him a knowing look, he was avoiding the question. He cleared his throat. "Hermione, in all of your reading and research have you come across the idea of a matriarchal society?"
"Of course, most tribes long ago were matriarchal, I think the idea of a patriarchal society came around the times of the Greeks."
"Well as you probably know, pureblood wizard families have been around for even longer than that." Albus took a sip of his tea and looked over the edge at her. She looked slightly confused.
"Since Lucinda died there are no wives or mothers left in the purebloods."
"I always heard horror stories about how Slytherins treated their women."
"Well, some of that is true I'm sorry to say. However it is not the traditional pureblood families, the Snapes, Malfoys, Zambinis, plus the others that ou don't know. They go to Durmstraung mostly. And it is not their wives, daughters and mothers that are treated badly. Usually it will be some other, well I don't want to get into it, just ley me assure you that Narcissa and Lucinda were treated like queens in every respect because on some level they were."
"So what your telling me is that they want me to be their pureblood queen?" Hermione snorted to herself at the absurdity of it.
"Yes." Hermione dropped her cup and Albus had his wand out and had levitated the mess before it even hit the ground. With a flick of his wand the cup was back on the platter with the tea safely inside.
"What?" Hermione was whispering, her eyes were huge and her hands were visibly shaking. She stood and began pacing. "Is that what they have been doing for the past few years? Transferring Samuel from school to school to find an appropriate wife? Does he not care enough about his son to not involve him in this sick twisted game. Do they not marry for love in pureblood families? What are they looking for? Someone to host tea parties or someone to make all of their decisions for them, or is it a figure head job, and why would the pick me? I'm not pureblood. I've been called mudblood a thousand times by Malfoy himself. I want to like Snape and Samuel but I can not like either of them knowing that they have been doing this over and over trying to find the one woman who wouldn't press charges. That's it isn't it? If I had done something about Samuel when he came into the bathroom, asking him to be expelled or whatever they would have left me alone. I had to go and be motherly and he pegged me as the next Mrs. Slytherin and now I am going to be stalked by the giant bat and his miniature double. How could he even think I would be the person for this job, he always hated me in school. I don't get it. So basically he has no feelings for me, and probably never will but he will marry me in order to uphold this weird slytherin tradition. Unless of course he wants me to marry someone else, Oh gods, he doesn't want me to marry Draco does he. I think I would rather marry Samuel, Oh I hope he doesn't want me to marry Samuel, I won't do it no matter what they say. But I hate to hurt Samuel like that. I don't mind hurting Draco or Snape and I don't even want to think about Lucious. That bastard should be in jail. I bet they will even want me to have a child won't they. Of course every marriage is suppose to produce a child. I bet they will want a girl too considering that there aren't any girls left. Wait what about Pansy Parkinson, she Slytherin. Why not her? Why me?!" Hermione through herself into the chair and screamed in frustration. "Sorry, I feel a little better now." She looked at Albus who looked very amused.
"Well, I will try to answer most of your questions. Pansy Parkinson is not a respectful woman in their eyes. If Samuel had hit on her she would've taken him to bed even at his age." Hermione shuddered. "The Slytherins are rooted in tradition. They thrive on it and yes a big part of it is that their mother figure dispenses advice and such. So they highly covet intelligence and wisdom." He shot Hermione a knowing look. "They want someone caring and compassionate, so the fact that you didn't prosecute Samuel in any way did help to get you on the top of their list. They want someone who is beautiful, so that yes, they can have beautiful children."
"Damn my devastatingly beautiful self, compassionate caring personality and overwhelming thirst for knowledge. I always knew they would be my undoing." Hermione cliched her fist and brought it down, mockingly in pain.
"You've started reading comic books haven't you?" She let out an exasperated sigh.
"I've done the entire library at school and Flourish and Blotts are having a hard time keeping up with my demand. The kids started giving me their comic books when they were through with them. She looked down and shook her head. "I know, sad." Albus laughed and shook his head.
"I peruse the occasional comic, don't feel bad. Back to the task on hand." Here he leaned forward toward Hermione. "Lucious and the other purebloods would never just agree to a muggle born." He looked at her meaningfully.
"I don't get you."
"Severus knows this, he wouldn't even have tried to talk to them about you, unless he is ... really ... interested."
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I was going to thank each of you individually, and I really should do that but as you may have noticed, I haven't had a chance to update because I haven't had a chance to type, so instead of thanking everyone individually, I'm going to work on all my stories! Thanks for all the great reviews! Keep them coming. I need the support. You guys are great!
