Alright – a new chapter, yay!
As usual – thanks to my wonderful beta shyngr8 what would a poor girl from Sweden do without you correcting my grammar and spelling errors?
Disclaimer: NO, NO, NO – they're NOT mine… JK – are you sure that I can't by Lucius?
Disclaimer: And the lyric isn't mine neither, it belongs to eurorhythmic's and is called "Sweet drams" but you listen too me folks – their song is good, but Merlyn Manson's cover is so MUCH better…
Enjoy (as usual) and this time I won't offer you a lemon drop – poor Albus, nobody likes his candy…
Sweet dreams – a new law
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Hermione didn't know how she'd reached her room, her heart beat hard in her chest, and she swallowed against her dry throat. He had frightened her; she hadn't felt that fear in ages, not so strong – not so living… not since the war, not since her lonely walk in Salazar Slytherin's tomb.
Pictures flashed before her eyes: blood, suffering – pain! She had seen it all, because she was there when the injured came to the hospital. Under the war there were two kinds of people, those who become warriors… and those, like her who took care of those who were injured.
She hadn't gone with Ron and Harry when they went with the others in the order to fight the final battle. She had remained at the hospital, she wanted to take care of those poor people who were injured… but the hospital was attacked and she had no other choice but to follow the warriors.
Hermione made her way to the shower, and after that to bed, she was tired, exhausted. She heard a soft: "meooow" and then a soft thud, her cat purred and crawled into her arms. She smiled and kissed the top of his head:
"Good night, Crooks."
She walked in shadows; she recognised this place, the tombs of Salazar Slytherin – her heartbeat became louder, they where closing up – soon there would be no return, no escape. Her grip around her wand became almost painful. Around her there were loud whispers, threatening voices, where were they? She wasn't supposed to reach their headquarters all alone – she wouldn't stand a chance.
Suddenly there was light at the end of the tunnel, she heard cries, hexes and curses – her legs felt like jelly and the copper smell of blood reached her nostrils, this was the battlefield – far, far away from her home, her parents… this might be her doom.
She reached the end of the tunnel and found herself standing on a platform. Underneath she saw the raging battle – she knew, this was the final destination… she'd reached Salazar Slytherin's grave complex.
Where was Harry? Ron? Lupin? Her eyes scanned the huge hall, but she couldn't find them, everything was just a muddle of screaming and cursing witches, wizards and death eaters in their black robes. She had to find them! She had to… please god, please don't say that they are dead, please! Suddenly her eyes caught a red prick in the ocean of people, Ron! On his side she recognised Harry, Lupin, Mad-eye Moody and Albus Dumbledore – the mighty old wizard kept the death eaters at bay; they made their way through the hall – their goal… Hermione saw him then, the dark lord.
Her eyes tracked them and suddenly her heartbeat stopped, one of the death eaters raised his wand, he yelled a curse – meant for Harry… but the spell hit…
"Ron! No! RON!"
The redhead fell to the ground; Hermione was on her way down – no matter the cost! Her Ron! They've hurt him, she'd make them pay – yes, they'll suffer! Her eyes fixed on the fallen redhead, he was hit again, his body cramped – she was close to tears.
"And where do you think you're going, mudblood?"
She spun around, wand raised but the curse hit her – she fell screaming to the ground.
She awoke screaming – her arms were wrapped around her pillow, she had kicked off the blanket in her sleep and she herself was almost lying on the floor. That dream… she hadn't dreamt it for months now… but then… 'Lucius Malfoy.' she thought grimly…
Bastard…
She hated him!
------------o------------ At the ministry of magic ------------o------------
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused
Cornelius Oswald Fudge, the Minister of Magic was troubled at the moment… he re-read the scroll in his hand and sighed. Often he told himself that he came up with this idea because he wanted to protect the wizard world, but this law – this law wouldn't be popular amongst the muggle born and half-bloods – neither would it be appreciated by the pure-bloods… but god damn it! Something had to be done, this year 20 of the newborn in the wizard world became squibs!
There was a knock on his door, Fudge gave a flick of his wand and the door opened. He sighed when he saw who his visitor was – Lucius Malfoy.
The blond wizard stalked across the room and offered himself a seat without permission; Fudge growled in his throat, sometimes this man forgot his place. Malfoy gave him a daring look and Fudge lowered his stare.
"Ah Cornelius… my friend… I'm here to talk about that new law of yours."
"I know what you are going to say, Lucius; I know you don't like the idea… I kno-"
"Clam down, Cornelius, I'm here because I would like to congratulate you on a very good idea."
"You… you what? Why?" Cornelius mouth hung open, the blond wizard laughed.
"Well of course – we don't want any more squibs now do we? And I need a new wife." Lucius voice was perfectly clear, the poor minister was dumbfounded, here was the man whom was accused to be the dark lord's second in command – sitting in his office and telling him that a law that forced pure-bloods to marry muggle born was a brilliant idea – and that he also wanted to marry someone with muggle offspring – what has the world come to?
"Listen carefully to me, Fudge, I can give you support from the pure-bloods side, I can give you the support you need to bring this," Lucius long, pale fingers gripped around the scroll that Fudge for the moment hell in his hand: "bring this to reality – without that support you'll never get this to work."
Fudge, whom through the years has learned how this man worked, knew that nothing Lucius offered came for free – there was always a price, always something he wanted in return. The minister of magic sighed deeply and said:
"What's your price, Lucius? What do you want in return?"
"Clever, Fudge, very clever." Lucius smirked and took the scroll from Cornelius: "I want some small changes in this law – if I can make these changes you'll have full support from the pure-bloods side."
"And these changes would be?"
Lucius smirked in triumph and from that moment Cornelius knew that no matter the changes, Lucius would win this – the ministry needed his money, after the war every thing was in ruins and the ministry of magic was in a deep financial crisis.
The blond wizard withdrew his wand and touched the scroll once, twice and --pop-- the text started to change, paragraph after paragraph until it was almost a new law. Fudge swallowed; if he set this to reality Dumbledore would fry him alive over open fire…
"Oh – minister, I almost forgot, St. Mungo's hospital needed to be re-built, right?"
"Dumbledore will kill me for this… but… I have to save the wizard kind… alright Lucius you win."
"As always my friend – as always… please sign here then."
Fudge picked up a feather pen and the ink-pot, slowly he wrote his name: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic. Lucius smirked. Satisfied, he left the room.
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused
------------- At Hogwarts school of witchcrafts and wizardry on month later -------------
Hermione yawned as she stretched on her bed and crumbled to the floor. She half crawled, half walked to the shower in the bathroom. After a while in the hot flowing water she came to her senses and was fully awake. Dripping of hot water, she made her way to the mirror to brush her teeth. Still wet she began with the hopeless mission which was her hair. After a while, it finally looked okay so she put down her brush.
She rummaged through her room and found her school uniform. She put it on and began to pack her books and notes in her old, green and worn-out school bag. After she made sure that Crookshanks bowls were filled with food and water she went for the door.
She checked her watch, gesch, she had overslept again. Cursing her old clock radio that was broken for some strange reason, she ran through the corridors – if she didn't get on time to breakfast she'd maybe miss the daily prophet.
Why Hermione was so interested in the daily prophet was not the fact that they had just announced for a new journalist, or because she was immoderately fascinated by the newest sport minister. No, Hermione was looking for more information about that horrible law the ministry (according to the rumours) had put into action.
She reached the great hall almost out of breath, there was no sign of the owls that brought the daily prophet – she checked her watch – good, she was on time.
"Oi! Hermione!" She gazed over the hall and found her two best friends there, Ginny and Harry… she found herself searching for Ron… and stopped dead in her tracks, it hurt… she'd always forget.
She stalked towards her friends, Harry had his arm around Ginny, they where such cute couple. Hermione was happy for their sake… Harry needed Ginny and Ginny needed Harry. She sighed, if Ron were with them she'd maybe be sitting by his side and have his arm around her. Before the war he'd kiss her for the first time, he'd said he loved her and… she loved him. He promised that after the war they'd be together… after the war. This was after the war, but they weren't together because he was at the hospital, incapable of recognizing her.
"We saved a seat for you." Harry grinned towards her and fixed her with his intense green stare. She looked into his eyes; they were hurt and sad – broken. Maybe Ginny would make him better in time, but Hermione knew that he blamed himself for what happened to Ron, and he always would.
"Thank you – no post yet?" She asked and slumped down at Harry's right.
"Nope, but I doubt that all that talk about that law is true. If you ask me, it's just Malfoy-bullshit." The black haired boy served himself some pumpkin juice and a piece of toast.
"Maybe… but I'm worried." Hermione poured some tea in her cup and nibbled on a piece of toast with strawberry jam.
"Oh – my – god!" Ginny called and pointed – through the windows a huge swarm of owls were in sight, there had to be at least four hundred of them.
"What's all that about?" Harry questioned when a brown owl dropped a letter in his soured milk.
Hermione was quick enough to catch her letter in the air, Ginny's fell in her lap. If Hermione weren't mistaken every student in their sixth and seventh year did have themselves a letter – all of them the same. So did all of the teachers, Hermione snickered when she saw that professor Snape's landed in his coffee.
She had a hasty glance at the sender; it was from the ministry. Her heartbeat stopped for a mere second… this couldn't be… could it? With shaking hands she tore it open and read the message:
I want to use you and abuse you
I want to know what's inside you
Hold your head up, movin' on
Keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on
Keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on
Keep your head up, movin' on
Movin' on!
§ Law 202 arranged marriages §
§. According to article 20, purebloods are called upon this law to find an appropriate wife/husband amongst the muggle born and half blood witches or wizards whom have reached appropriate age.
§. According to first item in article 20, half-bloods and muggle born have to obey the call of a pureblood – if not they will be sent to Azkaban.
§. Article 212, if a muggle born or a half-blood gets more than one proposal an investigation will be made. The pureblood witch/wizard with the best opportunities to support his/hers future wife/husband will be the one whose proposal leads to engagement.
§. Article 213, there will be no exceptions made but already completed marriages and only marriages, no engagements or other relations will be accepted.
§. According to first item in article 212, at least one proposal must be made by every pureblood family, if not the ministry will choose one appropriate candidate and make a proposal for him/her. If they still refuse they'll have to pay a fine of 100 galleons to the ministry of magic and then obey the law. Under further struggle against the law an investigation will be made and a punishment will follow.
§. Article 200, the marriage has to produce at least one healthy child with magical talents.
§. According to the second item in article 20, when the proposal has been made the couple will meet twice a week under a cycle of four weeks – in the fifth week the ceremony has to take place.
Further information is available in the reception of the ministry
Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic
She blinked once, twice… this was… this was insanity! They couldn't do this… could they? She was trembling, of all the horrible things she was expecting of this law, this… THIS highly transgressed her worst fears. This law wouldn't take any consideration to the muggle born or half-bloods, they would be driven over like they were toys or pretty gifts.
"They can't mean this, it's… IT'S AWFUL!" Ginny stood up and waved her letter in the air, as if her piece of paper was a sword. Her face was red and her eyes raging with anger: "They're treating us like we are animals for sale!"
"Ginny, Ginny – clam down… you are a pure-blood for heaven's sakes!" Hermione growled. She tried to remain under control: "You could send a proposal to Harry tomorrow morning and the two of you would live happily ever after."
"You're right, 'Mione" Harry said in a low tone: "But what about you?"
"Me? Don't be ridiculous, Harry." Hermione tried to laugh, but it sounded false and dead: "Who would like to marry me?"
"Some one that might want to hurt you." Harry's eyes showed great concern, and deep down inside Hermione knew that he'd just said the eight words that she herself was thinking.
She looked around, every where there was angry cries and high pitched voices that accused the ministry of animal trade with humans and butchering… well… almost everywhere she thought grimly.
Around the Slytherin table it was perfectly quiet, just like they'd received a note that read: "Today the sun will go down and you will go to bed."
"Children!" Albus Dumbledore called, the hall went silent: "This is a great shock indeed. I myself didn't know of this new law! But you listen to me – I'll do everything in my power to stop it. I'll leave this instant and speak to those fools in the ministry."
The hall started talking again, the "buzzing" sound of hundreds voices echoed against the walls, Hermione didn't doubt that Dumbledore would do everything in his power to prevent this law, but she highly doubted that he could do anything about it.
"Ah, and one more thing children! The day's classes will be cancelled because of this event. Now try to enjoy your meal."
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused
I'm going to use you and abuse you
I'm going to know what's inside
Going to use you and abuse you
I'm going to know what's inside you
Ah... some space until next cahpie will be here - I've reacently e-mailed it to my beta so it'll soon be here...