Legacy

by

Jeslyn Nighthawk

A/N: Spring break is not quite done, and not only do I have this chapter done, but the next one is almost ready to be beta read. Speaking of which a big, big, big, big thanks to Taya who once again was my beta. Also, and I am very proud of this, I just started a group at yahoo for this fic. It will serve a couple of purposes. One, I will use it to send out alerts for when I update this fic. So if you have been asking me for emails… well I am a really spazzy girl, and I have probably forgotten. This way I won't be able to leave people out. Two, I am going to post my illustrations for this fic there, which are at the moment mostly the designs for Hermione's gowns. Illustrations will go up along with the chapters that inspired them. Anyone else who might be inspired to try a hand at illustrating my fic… Please? I am curious as to how other people see these characters. Finally, any discussion anyone might want to partake in can go on there too. Yay!

Anyway, Thanks for reading, please, please, please drop a review. They make me write. Review Responses at the end.

Disclaimer: I don't own it. Duh.

Chapter 6

            Remus Lupin barely suppressed a smile as he watched his dark, elegant friend disdainfully brush the ash from his clothing. Severus hated Flooing, and everyone who knew him knew it. Not that there were many people who knew him, but still…

            Despite his amusement at Severus' fastidiousness, Remus was sure that it would have to be something serious to bring Severus all the way to France with no warning. Among other reasons, Severus hated France. Severus hated anything to do with France. Remus couldn't blame him really. With the Muggle war with Napoleon, and Severus own role gathering information in the French Court bringing him into contact almost constantly with French scum like the Malfoys and Lestranges, it would have been a surprise if France had held any appeal to anyone any longer, never mind to a man with such discriminating tastes as Severus. Remus knew that Severus was taking the Prince Regent's orders to set up a nursery as an excuse for a much deserved vacation, however not restful such an endeavor might prove. For Severus to show up here, unexpected…

            "Might I enquire as to the nature of the emergency that has brought you here at this time of night? The momma hens becoming too much for our most esteemed spy?" Remus teased, hoping to mask his growing concern.

            "Actually, Remus, I was hoping you could tell me why your niece is parading around London masquerades posing as your daughter," Severus smirked at the baffled expression on his friends face.

            "Hermione?"

            "Do you have another niece?" Another smirk.

            "None that I am on speaking terms with," Remus paused to think, "I don't know why Hermione would do such a thing. Especially since this was to be Amelia's first Season. Surely she would have to worry about running into Amelia and Minerva?"

            Now it was Severus' turn to be puzzled, "You mean that Minerva was to be Amelia's escort for the Season? Not Diana?"

            "Of course Diana won't be escorting Amelia! You know her consumption always acts up this time of year," Remus clearly restrained himself from adding that his wife was a shrew and would be entirely unlikely to get Amelia accepted into the "right" circles, title or not.

            Severus was in no way similarly restrained, "Not to mention your wife's… temperament." He had had occasion to meet Diana Lupin on his one visit to the family's country home, and the meeting had not been pleasant. It was a shame he had not met Amelia at that time, but as he recalled, she was off visiting a relative, one Miss Granger.

            Remus grimaced at his friends remark, but did not refute it. It was, after all, true. "Why did you seem so surprised then?"

            "Because, old chap, it was Minerva who was escorting your niece about and calling her by Amelia's name."

            "Why would she… I do believe I need to have a chat with my Aunt." Remus was quite determined now to get to the bottom of this now.

            "That would probably be advisable. I have no doubt that the ruse shall be revealed by the end of Miss Granger's first ball. The two of them are atrocious liars."

            "Come now, Severus, I don't think your giving Hermione nearly enough credit."

            Severus raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Is that bet, Remus?"

            "Depends on the stakes – and the terms." Remus felt inclined to defend his niece's capabilities, but was reluctant to enter into a wager with his Slytherin friend.

            "I will wager you she will not last half the Season, which we will mark as Minerva's own annual ball. If she does manage that far, I will marry her myself, if she will have me." Severus clearly did not think this would be the case.

            "And if I lose?"

            "I think one hundred Galleons would be sufficient."

            "Pardon me for asking, but it doesn't seem as if I gain much by way of this bet. And why would you marry her?" Remus was puzzled by his friend's wager.

            "You gain me providing a cover up for the reason you allowed this ruse to continue. You can say it was a test for my prospective bride. This will come out, Remus, and when it does, you had better be prepared to either protect that girl with every privilege your title affords you, or wash your hands of her entirely. Anything else will ruin not only her, but you as well, and very likely Amelia." Severus was scowling by the end.

            "That doesn't explain why you would marry the girl, Severus," Remus had the feeling he was onto something here.

            He wasn't surprised when Severus didn't answer.

***

            "Minerva. We need to talk."

            Minerva fought to hold down the panic that flared to life when Remus Lupin's disembodied head appeared in the fireplace in her room. "About-" She paused to gather her thoughts, and her courage. "About what, Remus?"

            "Can I come through?" He seemed to be amused at her discomfiture.

            "What?" She took another deep breath. "Of course."

            A few moments later they were seated across from each other in the comfy chairs Minerva kept for her and Albus to sit in front of her fire.

            "Would you care to explain to me why Hermione is masquerading as my daughter?" Remus asked, getting straight to the point.

            "How did you-" Minerva gasped.

            "How did I find out? Severus brought me the news not an hour ago. He was most intrigued." Minerva saw Remus trying to suppress a smile and guessed  he was quite enjoying this.

            Minerva narrowed her eyes at him. "Well, then I guess the jig is up, and as she had yet to be introduced, there is no real harm done."

            Remus hastily held up his hands to forestall her. "Now, I didn't say that. I'm just curious as to why."

            "Why?" Minerva felt put out by this question. In her opinion, Remus should have been more aware of what was going on in his daughter's life, war or no war. "Because that Harpy you call a wife was going to force your daughter into an arrangement with the highest bidder while you were out of the country! Because the self same bitch decided that Harry Potter was below her daughter's station! And because when the girl failed to reach you, she came to Hermione and me for help!" She took a steadying breath, while Remus tried to get his evident shock under control, "I will admit that it was not the best option, or the only one. But the truth is that Amelia and Harry had to get eloped before Diana could pull anything, and your wife had to be convinced that Amelia was here in London getting ready for her Season. Furthermore, Hermione is in need of a husband, whether she thinks so or not, and the only way to get her here was this charade."

            Remus blinked three times, and then replied, much to Minerva's surprise, "Well, she's got a husband, if she can pull this off that is. And I am sorry about being out of touch, Prinnie has got me doing intelligence gathering. I couldn't very well tell the Prince Regent to 'bugger off,' now, could I?"

            "I'm sorry for yelling at you, Remus. I do know how important your work is," Minerva paused, "What do you mean 'she's got a husband?'"

            Remus ducked his head and rubbed the back of his neck in shame. "Well, you see, Severus and I kind of have a bet…"

            "What sort of bet?"

            "He bet that Hermione would not last until your ball playing at being Amelia, and I said she would."

            "And the stakes?"

            "If he wins, I owe him a hundred galleons."

            "And if you win?"

            "If I win- Severus will marry Hermione, if she will have him?"

            "Remus! How could you bet your own niece's happiness!" Minerva was furious.

            "It wasn't my idea, I swear! Severus came up with it all on his own!"

            "Why would he do that?"

            "He wouldn't answer," Remus grinned at his aunt, "She's intrigued him, Minerva. Give it time, and that man will be head over heels."

            "Some how I doubt that," Minerva replied with pursed lips, "But still, those two deserve each other. He is one of the few men that could make Hermione happy, I think. I know that she could do the same for him." Minerva turned to stare into the flames in her fireplace, "Lord knows that man has had precious little happiness in his time. It's about time he found some."

TBC

A/N: Another chapter done! And it is really long for me too! Please leave a review. The more reviews the faster I will work to get the next chapter out. Promise. Oh yeah, two things. One the Prince Regent George's nick name was "Prinnie" but only to those very close to him. Two, the address for my group is on my profile page since they won't let us post url's here.

Review Responses:

Culcarien: I can't say I would never abandon a story, because I have. But that was entirely because no one was reading it. As long as people keep reading, I'll keep writing. Updates are sporadic simply because school does not really leave much time for writing. Breaks are the only time I really have.

Joshua Glass: Thanks again. Was this one long enough? It was longer at least.

Porthos: Good to know you made it back and that I didn't disappoint. Thanks.

Fleria: I know what you mean. I actually have some of the same problem, but I hope this gets less confusing as it moves forward.

Athene Saile: I hope I have no more problems finishing it. I had a bit of writers' block, but I seem to be over it. I actually have only the vaguest idea where this is going. And that is only that Hermione and Severus end up together. Otherwise this story seems to pretty much be writing itself, and that is a new experience for me.

Hi: Umm… I'm sorry? I didn't mean for it to take a long time? Thank you for the review and I hope this chapter and the *very soon to come next chapter make up for it.

CezyAngel: I hope this cleared up some of the confusion. As for the rest… Well, McGonagall's not really all that prim and proper now is she? She just has to appear that way to society. Thank you for pointing out that discrepancy though.

Danae-Aspaisa: Thank you. I have chosen Classics, though the way my school's schedule works out I will probably only get Latin, and not Greek. This doesn't bother me much though, I have recently discovered a deep and lasting love for Catullus. Yay! for Archaeology! Thanks for your review too.

JennyRad: Wow! Someone who's read more than one of my fics! Thanks, thanks, thanks.

Anarane Anwamane, ALittleBitOfDarkness, Pheonix Flights, SpacedOutAnna, and Keladry: Thank you.

And last but not least, Taya: I hope I caught everything. If not, feel free to smack me.  I understand about the WIP's. We all have them don't we. Incidentally, I read some of yours and was quite upset when they weren't finished. And of course you beta'd it, silly. And thanks a billion time over for doing so.

P.S. I am sending you the next chapter tonight.

Bye every one. See you next time.

Thanks,

Jes