Hermione's nerves had settled down, her emotions calmed after she had seen Maria into her family's care. She had attended her classes with less fervor than usual, but after a week, her nerves were much calmer than before. It was Friday afternoon, and she and Bill were speaking before the ministry, petitioning for half-species witches to be considered half-bloods, in a few short hours. Hermione had researched tirelessly the entire week to set up for this case, but her stomach was still in knots.
She was extremely sick of Dumbledore and McGonagall sending her sad looks, then knowing looks, then sympathetic looks, then… ugh, just all those looks! They drove Hermione's utterly mad and only added to her stress. She patrolled the halls twice as often as she was scheduled, never running into a teacher. Harry had lent her the Marauders Map and she used it to watch over the students when she wasn't patrolling the halls. She had fallen into a pattern which didn't include sleep. It did include attend morning classes, research at lunch, attend afternoon classes, eat quickly, research some more, do school work, patrol then watch the map for the rest of the night until classes came again.
Snape's eyes watched her carefully the entire week. She knew he was angry with her for not taking care of herself, but before the last lesson on Friday, when she took her usual seat, which was the center of the classroom in the second row, a potion was sitting on her desk. She observed it carefully, smelling it first, before realizing it was a rejuvenation potion, with was not an easy potion to make. She drank it quickly, feeling all exhaustion flood out of her. She sent Snape a thankful look, which he merely nodded to.
She listened intently as he assigned the potion and quickly began as soon as he gave permission. She gathered her ingredients and sat at her seat to see Draco Malfoy in the seat beside hers. She nodded politely at him and started her potion. They worked quite effectively as a team, as this potion was a two-man job. She cut the ingredients perfectly and he watched the time, being sure to add them in the exact second it called for. Their potion turned out perfect, and Snape praised Malfoy on it, nodding in acknowledgement to Hermione, who merely nodded in reply.
Neville's cauldron boiled dangerously, but the ever-observant Snape contained it in time before it melted the cauldron.
"Professor Snape, may I please borrow Hermione for a moment?" asked Bill Weasley from the door.
"Very well, you may keep her, too, if you'd like," Snape said, with a dismissive tone, gaining a chuckle from the class.
Hermione walked out and once in the hall, noticed Bill's usual composed face, contorted with fear and dread.
"Don't get nervous, Bill. You can do this. I'm going to win this. I have yet to lose at something that I truly wanted, and I really want this for you, Bill," Hermione said, hugging him tightly.
"Hermione, I would have married you, you know that," Bill said.
"Yes, and you would have been miserable," Hermione smiled. "Trust me. It's much better this way. I'll just… I have Severus, he's better than most girls will get," Hermione said.
"Professor Snape? Why not Oliver?" Bill asked.
"He's too much like Ron and Harry. I can't stand it," Hermione said.
"Do you have something against my brother, Hermione?" Bill smiled.
"Well we can't go ten minutes without arguing. That's the problem with Ron," Hermione smiled.
"Do you really think they'll let me and Fleur get married?" Bill asked eagerly.
"Of course they will!" Hermione said.
Bill let out the breath he'd been holding, embracing Hermione again, just as the signal for the end of class sounded.
Snape exited his classroom to see Hermione in Bill's embrace. He felt an odd sort of jealousy brew inside of him, causing is blood to boil. He held back from lunging at Bill, but just barely. He cleared his throat, roughly. Hermione pulled away from Bill, turning to him.
"We're going to win, Severus. Don't you think?" she asked, eagerly.
Snape turned his angry, burning gaze from Bill to Hermione, his expression softening.
"If there's anyone who could win this, it's you," he told her, gently, kissing her forehead, lightly after making sure the dungeons were empty.
"Thank you, Severus," she said, thankfully. Snape's face tightened up into it's usual scowl and he nodded, briskly turning and walking to his classroom, abruptly, not saying one word to her.
"Come on, Bill, let's get my folder," Hermione said, leading the way to the head girl room.
"Big day, isn't it my dear," Godric said.
"It sure is Godric," Hermione said.
"Nervous?" he continued as she opened the portrait.
"Terrified," she called to him as she dropped her book bag closed the portrait to change into her best robes, a pair of deep blue robes that were strict and businesslike.
"You'll be fine dear. Good luck. You too my lad," Godric said to Bill, as Hermione exited and joined them. Bill nodded, thankfully. Hermione felt sick as she entered the Entrance Hall with Bill at her side. She hugged Fleur tightly upon seeing her, then Dumbledore
"All right, Hermione. I will be there to judge, but I cannot watch you but for when you are in the room. You are to stay within ten feet of Bill at all times. If you aren't close enough to him, it will alert both Severus and myself. Severus will also be there, but it's best that we don't all show up as one. He will be somewhere close in the ministry. You must be careful. Bill I expect you to make sure she doesn't leave your side. Fleur, I'm sure you'll also help protect her. She is very important to the older, I assure you and I need to be sure that the two of you will take care of her," Dumbledore said.
"I will not let her out of my sight," Bill promised.
"All right, Hermione be careful and… break this law, my friend," Dumbledore told her.
With that the three left, walking off Hogwarts grounds together. They walked in silence to the apperation point, Bill holding Fleur's hand, while Hermione walked on Bill's other side, going over her notes.
Hermione's hair was drawn back from her face and there was a quill behind her ear. She was scribbling vigorously on the paper, with another quill in her hand. She chewed on her lip still thinking. She didn't even look at the couple as the three of them apperated to the ministry, doing it automatically. Fleur went ahead of them to the telephone booth then they went through together, as they had to be together.
It was rare for any which, even lawyers and politicians to go before the Wizengamot, but here Hermione was: eighteen and ready to walk into the room arms laden with papers and comparisons of Fleur's blood to Harry's, Hermione's, and Ron's. The three were obviously chosen because Hermione could get the samples easily and their group was the perfect example of mixed-bred friendships.
The voices in the hall were few. It was an almost-abandoned area. Bill turned, hearing his father's voice. Bill shook his father's hand in greeting, before Hermione then Fleur hugged him.
"This is a fateful day is it not? Do you have the petition sorted out already?" Arthur asked.
"I have it," Hermione said, shuffling through her papers, and pulling out the petition which would have to go through Fudge before it would be valid from Bill to Fleur.
"Breathe Hermione, dear; you're going to be fabulous," Bill told her, nearly freaking out because she was freaking out.
"I'm j-just frazzled is all," Hermione said, shakily. She cleared her throat, finding her voice and strengthening it. "I'm better than fine. We have this Bill," she told him.
"All right," Bill nodded. A man drew open the huge door grandly, bowing to them, then to Cornelius Fudge at the head table in the room.
"May I present Mr. Arthur Alexander Weasley and his son William Randall Weasley, along with Miss Fleur Jessamine Delacour56ty7y and their representation: Miss Hermione Jane Granger, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Head Girl," the man introduced. They entered in order, but for Hermione being at Bill's side instead of behind Fleur.
The two Weasleys and Fleur sat behind the small, rickety table. Hermione collected herself, shuffling through her papers.
"Minister Fudge, I am Hermione Granger and I will be representing these fine people on an unclear detail of the new ministry law 3215, the Marriage Act of 1999. Permission to proceed sir," Hermione asked.
"Continue, Miss Granger," Fudge said, hatred burning in his eyes as he looked at her, knowing full-well that she was an order member and an influencial member of the DA, which was still a working operation during the summers.
"Thank you, sir. I have the petition of betrothal for Mr. William Weasley to Miss Fleur Delacour from the head of the pureblood family Mr. Arthur Weasley," she stated. "I also have the section of the law where I have found the problem regarding part-magical beings, such as Miss Delacour, who is, in fact a part siren," Hermione said. She waved her wand at the papers and the appeared in front of each member of the Wizengamot. She walked to the head table and handed the papers to Percy, who took them, indifferently.
"Miss Granger, you yourself are under the influence of the marriage act yourself am I right, you being an eligible eighteen year old witch?" a man on the end of the head table asked.
"I am, sir," Hermione nodded.
"Mr. Weasley is one of your suitors is he not?" the man continued.
"He was sir," Hermione nodded.
"He already has a petition out for one woman. He cannot have another. Have you thought of this? How are we sure this is not your way of avoiding the ministry law?" the man asked.
"I'm sorry you are not aware sir, I was under the impression that Minister Fudge had explained to the Wizengamot that I had received a multitude of petitions and am now currently considering two others, not including Mr. Weasley's. I have rejected his petition, therefore he no longer is bound by his petition to me, sir," Hermione said.
"A multitude, clarify for the Wizengamot," the man pressed.
"Sir, if you are trying to discredit my thorough research on this, I do not think it will work. I did not count the number of petitions, but there were were well over twenty," Hermione said. "Headmaster Dumbledore would better to give you the exact number," Hermione said.
"Twenty-four," Dumbledore said, loudly, when attention turned to him.
"I received twenty-four petitions sir," Hermione stated.
"Which two are you considering then?" the man continued.
"I do not see the relevance here, sir, on a parallel between my personal life and the man I am representing," Hermione said, her nervousness gone and replaced by anger.
"Is Severus A. Snape one of those choices, Miss Granger?" the man said, causing her anger to rise still.
"Yes, if it must be known. I am considering Severus Snape and Oliver Wood," Hermione said, irritably.
"Severus Snape was accused once of being a death eater was he not?" the man asked.
Albus Dumbledore stood, and said, in a booming voice, "That is quite enough, Antoin. Severus Snape was cleared completely of those charges, which you well know. I move for the Wizengamot to discount the information on the representation's personal life. It is completely irrelevant."
Fudge stood, glaring at Dumbledore, but did his job saying, "Number for the move to discount?"
It was a majority, and Hermione's temper eased. She walked back to the table and took four papers, that were stapled together.
"Here I hold blood tests of four witches: Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Fleur Delacour, and myself," Hermione said, holding it up and performing the spell to send it to everyone in the courtroom, handing the originals to Fudge.
"Relevance?" a man grunted, in an irritated tone.
"I will explain," Hermione said. "The first page: Hermione Granger: muggleborn, hereditary magical level 4.52, and born magical level 19.234. The second page: Ronald Weasley: full-blooded wizard, hereditary magical level 17.353, and born magical level 14.64291.
"Now the important two are the back two blood tests," Hermione said. "Before you, you will see the blood tests of Miss Fleur Delacour and Mr. Harry Potter. Though this law is mostly to prevent inbreeding among purebloods, magical levels have a lot to do with hereditary magics. If you will notice the hereditary scores: Harry Potter had a 13.20003, and Fleur Delacour had a 13.20002. They are almost exactly the same number. A siren half born and a muggle half-born's magic levels are one-ten-millionth different!"
"This law is, as I have said before mostly an attempt to squash inbreeding among the ancient pureblood families of Britain. Fleur Delacour is not part of a major pureblood family. Fleur Delacour isn't even from Britain. She is a French-woman with humble homage and a siren background. She is not a pureblood, and while she is not a muggleborn, she should be considered a half-blood."
"How do we know that her pureblood lines do not trace back to the Weasleys?" Fudge demanded.
"I have here a copy of the Malfoy family lineage. Fleur Delecour is the great grand-daughter of Semerias Lucius Malfoy," Hermione said, taking out the paper and sending it to everyone. "He went by the alias of Mr. Frank Dillian Delacour according to this report of fraud. He was found in 1899 and imprisoned in Azkaban. That is how we know that he used this alias and that Fleur Delacour is technically Fluer Malfoy and in such a case, it is safe to say that no one in her lineage mixed with the Weasley lineage as the family fued between the two families goes back centuries."
"Accepted," Fudge muttered. "Anything else to add Miss Granger?"
"Yes sir, I would like to address the Wizengamot," she said.
"Request permitted," Fudge said stiffly.
If we can deny love, even where it is lawful to let these two people wed, where is our community going? What is wrong with these two people marrying under the conditions of the 1999 Marriage Act? There is none!" Hermione said passionately. "Thank you," she said, seriously. "I know you will make the wisest decision. Hermione said. She bowed her head, gracefully, taking a step back. She nodded to the three sitting silently at the table, in suspense, and they all stood, hurrying after her.
Hermione closed the door, nodding again to Fudge, who scowled back. "Who the bloody hell was that guy?" she asked through gritted teeth. She was clearly furious.
"Malcolm Jenson. He is a death eater, just trying to discredit you and Severus. Calm down dear," Arthur said, soothingly. "You were amazing, direct and to-the-point."
"Actually, I think you came across your point in a sloppy, unorganized way. Don't hold your breaths," Snape's cool tone remarked. Hermione turned and saw him. Tears came to her eyes, but she hurriedly went to his embrace.
"Severus," Arthur said, incredulously.
"I am stating my opinion," Snape said, rubbing Hermione's back gently for a moment, before stepping away.
"How did you even know what went on?" Bill demanded.
"Extendable ears," Snape stated.
"Where were you?" Hermione asked.
"The room above… Arthur's office," Snape replied. "You should have said something about the Siren Act of 1923," Snape told her. "You sounded like a Hogwarts student."
"She is," Arthur said, irritably.
"Yes, but she shouldn't have gone about that case like a school project. You didn't need to compare Potter and Delacour's blood tests to Weasley's and your own," Snape said down to Hermione, who nodded, gloomily. Fleur started crying, clutching tightly onto Bill, who wrapped his arms around her.
"You could just keep your mouth shut Snape. You're as bad as when I had you as a professor," Bill snapped.
"I try my best," Snape muttered, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I thought you were supposed to keep your distance," Arthur said.
"I don't trust any of your sons to watch Hermione. I'm not stupid," Snape muttered.
"Severus, stop it," Hermione said.
"So you're giving me orders now," Snape said, with a dryly amused voice.
Hermione just turned away from him, tears in her eyes.
"Severus, why don't you just go back to your dungeons if you're going to start treating my like one of your bloody potions students again," Hermione said, shakily.
"I wouldn't be here, if Albus hadn't told me to come," Snape growled back.
"Liar," Hermione muttered.
"Excuse me?" Snape said, eyes flashing dangerously.
Hermione's eyes darkened. "You heard me, you LI-AR!" she shouted. He grabbed her arm roughly and she gasped in surprise, but didn't look any less angry.
"Maybe I'll invite Oliver next time. He's much better to be around. I mean at least he doesn't hurt me!" she pushed him away, roughly, when he slackened his grip, and going to sit down on the bench.
Snape let out a growl and started pacing angrily: angry at himself, angry at Hermione, and angry at everyone else who caused him to be such an ass.
"Oh my god," he turned at Hermione's barely breathed words. She was staring terrified at a tall blond man with a serpent-headed cane. Snape walked to Hermione and sat at her side, wrapping a strong arm around her, holding her close.
Lucius saw the group and came towards them. Arthur, Bill, and Fleur (Who was hanging on Bill's arm) moved closer on Hermione's other side.
"Lucius," Snape growled.
"Miss Granger, you're looking lovely this evening, very firm," Lucius smirked as Snape lunged from his spot, drawing his wand. He didn't flinch, but he did, however, take a step back.
"You got to her once, Malfoy; don't look forward to it happening again," Snape growled.
"I'm patient, Severus. Don't worry," Malfoy said.
"You'll have to kill me first," Snape hissed.
"That's already being arranged, old friend. It's already being arranged," Lucius smirked, turning and walking away.
"Arthur, go in for Hermione," Snape told him, turning to his almost-fiance, and pulling her into his arms, and pressing her face to his shoulder, so she couldn't see Lucius. He hated Public Displays of Affection but Hermione was shaking she was so scared. He held her against him, waiting for Albus to come out. Finally, they were called in. He waited, impatiently for them to come out and when they finally did Bill had a furious …… on his face.
Furious look of furiously large smile? I know I have been holding off the date, but it will be a multiple-chapter thing. It should start next chapter. DO NOT GIVE UP ON ME! IT IS COMING! If you're a Phantom of the Opera fan and you leave, you're really going to miss out… just sayin'.
