Happy Saturday, everyone! Usual legal disclaimer: I own nothing. Some day someone might convince me to do something with the original works on my jump drive, but no one should hold their breath over it. And a little advanced warning, the 3rd week of September I am going on vacation. Given how swamped we have been at work, I do not think I will have an extra chapter done for that week. Wish me luck and send good vibes that we hire more aides. Enjoy.

Chapter 43 What Comes Next

The newlyweds and bridal party created a receiving line leading into the dining room. Having nothing to say to Penny's family, Hermione remained silent, nodding to them. They gave her varying looks of annoyance. She reached Rodolphus as the best man. She hugged him. "You're taking notes on what not to do, right?" he whispered in her ear.

"Of course," she replied. She moved on to Rabastan. "Congratulations on your bride. My condolences about her family."

"Thank you, little witch."

She moved on to Penelope, "May I congratulate you on your marriage and offer you my vow to help you distance yourself from your old family when needed?"

Penny laughed and hugged Hermione, "Thank you."

"Remember Mummy Dearest, two hours," winked Hermione. Marcus escorted her to their seats near the head of the table. "This is going to be a train wreck."

"Undoubtedly," he agreed.

Bellatrix sat next to Hermione, and Lucius sat on Marcus's other side. The Tonks and Lupins sat across from them. Beyond the Malfoys began the many Clearwater relatives. "Apparently, they breed like rabbits," muttered Bellatrix disapprovingly, examining Penny's three older brothers and their spouses.

The bride and groom sat together at the magically expanded head of the table. The caterers began serving the first course. Only years of social training kept everyone from making faces at the frou-frou food choices. The flavors did not always compliment one another. Hermione drank several large glasses of water during the first three courses. The conversation stalled three minutes into the second course, despite numerous attempts to keep it going.

Hermione up on Penny's brother, Roger Jr, and his wife, Camille, and addressed Penny, "Do you know where you're going for your honeymoon?"

Penny blushed, and smiled shyly at Rabastan, "No, it is to be a surprise. Though, I was advised to pack for warmer weather."

"Good chance beaches are in your future," teased Rodolphus.

"Or a cozy camping tent in Africa," suggested Narcissa.

Camille sniffed, "If you can afford a luxury hotel why go anywhere else?"

"Why indeed?" agreed her sister-in-law, Emily. "Miles promised to take me to that new Mediterranean resort next year for our anniversary." She gave her husband a smug smile.

Lucius looked at his son, "Is that the one you invested in with those Gryffindors?"

"Finnegan and Spinnet? Yes, the Irishman knows his way around designing bars and clubs. He has a real gift. And Spinnet puts Hermione to shame for sheer bossiness." Hermione pretended to look insulted to their family's amusement.

"Just for that, I expect VIP treatment," she sniffed.

Draco laughed, "But of course, mademoiselle."

Someone further down the table made a catty comment about rich people expecting stuff for free, but it was ignored. Hermione choked down the last two courses. Marcus used his wand to subtly vanished most of his meal. Bellatrix simply left it on her plate. Blessedly the meal ended and the guests moved to the ballroom. Lord Voldemort greeted and congratulated the couple there. He opted out of the meal to avoid seating issues and avoid the Clearwaters, which none of the Lestranges seemed to like, which spoke volumes to him.

Spread across the room small tables provided seating for the evening. Marcus and Hermione joined Luna, Graham, Cassius, and Adrian at one. Looking at Adrian, but including Cas, Hermione cautioned them, "Stay away from Penny's family. The entire family is full of gold diggers. Play it safe and go home alone."

Adrian chuckled, "That bad?"

"You have no idea," Marcus rolled his eyes.

Cassius looked to Luna, "Any Ravenclaws we should avoid?"

Luna shrugged, "No idea, I didn't socialize much with them. Penny was five years ahead of me." Luna patted his hand, "Go with Mione's advice. Go home alone. Anyone worth knowing will still be there tomorrow for proper vetting." They nodded.

Rabastan and Penny started the dancing by sharing their first dance as a couple. Rodolphus motioned for Hermione to join Rabastan as Penny's father collected her for a dance. "So far, so good," he smiled at his niece.

"Please, the night is young," she quipped back. "The alcohol has barely begun to flow."

"You can't just let me have this?"

"And allow you to be lulled into a false sense of security? Never!"

"Thank you for suggesting your place in Greece for the honeymoon."

"As it is not available to the public none of her family can go and try to top it. And I think the Ravenclaw in her will be delighted."

"Hence the appeal. As she does love swotty stuff like this, how annoyed will you be if we have sex in the library?" he wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"Don't tell me and we can pretend nothing happened."

"Sounds like a plan," he grinned at her as their dance ended.

Hermione danced with Marcus, Rodolphus, Cassius, Lucius, and Adrian before she demanded a rest. She surveyed the ballroom. The decorations looked as horrible as she feared they would. They clashed with each other and the room. Catering staff circulated with fruits and savory snacks to help keep guests sober longer. Rabastan had called it starvation self-defense. She took a small pastry off a passing tray, then collected a glass of champagne.

The room appeared to be on the fuller side. Lord Voldemort kept the edge of the room with many Death Eaters making their way discreetly to pay their respects. She noticed a few of the families Bellatrix called social climbers. The Macmillan and Patils sat together chatting as their children mingled. The Parkinsons were keeping Pansy on a short leash, much to Hermione's amusement. As most of the others avoided Pansy to stay on the Lestranges' and Hermione's good side, she looked bored beyond belief. 'Such a shame,' thought Hermione, 'couldn't happen to a more deserving girl.' She smirked at her thought. Across the room, she noticed Lisa Turpin and Marietta Edgecombe flirting with Adrian, who engaged but didn't seem interested in closing the deal. Cassius escaped Millicent Bulstrode by dancing with his mother. She smiled to see them thinking about the consequences. Nibbling on her pastry, Hermione noticed the Minster of Magic, Pius Thickness, mingling with a few other department heads. All in all an illustrious turnout, fitting Rabastan's standing in society. She sighed, the turnout meant years of Penny's family angling for invites to events none of the Lestranges wanted to host.

She sipped her drink. Feeling eyes on her, she looked up to see Marcus staring at her. She quirked a questioning eyebrow. He crossed to her without breaking eye contact. "Little dove."

"Something wrong?" she asked.

He took her hand to assist her to stand, pulled her to him, and kissed her passionately. "Why would anything be wrong?"

"You once told me you weren't into public shows of affection, and now you've all but peed on me," she said not unkindly.

He frowned, "You didn't like it?"

"I didn't say that. I asked what was wrong, brute. Now answer me," she demanded.

He sighed, "Some pretty boy started making comments about you sitting alone, and if you were his he would be glued to your side."

She wrinkled her nose, "No thank you. I like that you give me space in places where I feel safe, and stay close if I want." She took her hand, walking to the dance floor. "Let's show pretty boy who I belong with."

Pulling her scandalously close, "As my lady commands." He pressed his lips to her forehead. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

After several dances together, Hermione begged off, wishing to sit for a bit. She pointed at her mother and aunts sitting together, "Go ask your mother or sisters to dance. I'm sitting."

She sank into a chair at the table where Bellatrix and her sisters sat silently sipping glasses of champagne. Without a word, Andromeda handed her one. Hermione nodded her thanks then tipped her head to the side in question. Narcissa jerked her head in the direction of the table next to them.

Sarah Clearwater sat with her daughters-in-law planning upcoming social events. "And, of course, your anniversary party, Emily. Imagine an evening of dinner and dancing under the stars on the south lawn."

Emily nodded eagerly, "We should be able to invite all the executives since we aren't footing the bill."

That statement broke Andromeda's control over her temper and her tongue, "Just who do you think will be footing the bills for these lavish affairs no one has agreed to host?"

Sarah laughed, "Penelope, she is such a dutiful daughter."

Narcissa gave a tight smile, "Yes, but she's now a member of a different family. So, this would require a discussion with her new family, not just your assumptions."

"Oh, pish, formalities," dismissed the third daughter-in-law, Henrietta. "Her husband will agree to make Penelope happy and she can't say no. Such a little people pleaser."

"Is that so?" growled Bellatrix. The foolish woman tittered and nodded. "As lady of Lestrange Hall, I am restricting the access of the Clearwater family to invitation by the head of the house only." Sarah gasped and glared at the other witch.

"As heir, in absentia of the head, enact allowances for all members."

Sarah leapt to her feet, "How dare you, you nasty brat." She raised her hand to slap Hermione, but the blow never came.

Bellatrix caught Sarah by the wrist, squeezing it in a tight grip. "Would you like to hear

what happened to the last person who dared lay a finger on my daughter? I should warn you it isn't a happy tale."

"How dare she restrict our access to the family vaults!"

"Do you hear yourself?" demanded Narcissa. "It is not your access or your vaults. It is Penelope's access to Hermione's family fortune. The fortune you have been planning to run through over the last twenty minutes to the benefit of your family."

Eyes narrowed, Andromeda entered the fray, "Your daughter marrying into the family means next to nothing for you. You get some contracts and shipping. Be content with making then spending your own money."

"Penelope will never agree to this. She won't let her family be mistreated."

Hermione flanked Bellatrix, "Don't worry, we won't be. Now unless you want to be the laughingstock of this wedding, agree to shut your pie hole and walk away."

Sarah looked at the hard expressions on the faces of the Black sisters. She swallowed hard, "You're right, these are discussions for another time." She looked around nervously, "Excuse me, please, I should mingle." The Clearwater women fled.

Rodolphus, Rabastan, and Penny joined them. Penny laughed at Hermione, "Two hours, Bellatrix, and my mother social climbing, right?"

Narcissa sniffed, "Planning for you to host any and every social event for your father's house."

"On the Lestrange family's dime," Andromeda added.

Bellatrix glared, "As lady of the house I limited their access to invitation only." Roddy nodded.

Hermione spoke up, "And I invoked allowances." She looked at Rabastan and Penny. "Sorry."

Rabastan shrugged, "I have my own vaults and revenue."

Penny nodded, "Me, too. They have no right to expect yours to do all of that."

Rabastan nodded, "That just leaves dealing with them on holidays."

"Does it?" Hermione asked. "The Malfoys host New Years, the Tonks can take Easter, I will host Christmas. I see no reason to invite them to anything."

Penny hugged her, "You are scathingly brilliant."

"Why thank you. Now, let's go enjoy the rest of this party."

The next morning the Clearwaters hosted breakfast for the immediate family. Roger had wanted to protest Hermione's inclusion, as she was Rabastan's niece, not sister. But Penny put her foot down. Adding one person to bring the groom's total guest number to three seemed fair. After the meal, Hermione presented Rabastan with a wicker basket. "Portkey, charm to get past the wards, and a bottle of wine for fun. And after a lot of thought, please refrain from having sex in my library. Respect the books."

Everyone but Rabastan looked confused, "Hermione graciously offered her Greece estate after Penny expressed an interest."

"How does the daughter have an estate?" demanded Roger Sr.

"Not that it is any of your business Hermione was blood adopted in the past. She is as much a part of that family as her birth family."

"Like the ministry is suggesting for muggleborns?" Penelope's next oldest brother, Trent, asked.

"Similar, they would become full members of the new families. We had no idea if we would ever be released, Hermione needed someone to care for her, that family needed an heir. Everyone won." Rodolphus said. He looked at his brother, "Now, you two go have a good trip." He shooed them out the door.