Happy New Year, my freaky darlings. If this chapter rambles, I apologize. My muse keeps trying to wander off onto other projects and the Flintmione FB group Quidditch and Quills has released the Bingo cards for a fest, which doesn't help. But enjoy this next chapter.
Chapter 61 After the Storm
In the aftermath of the Battle of the Ministry, the press lauded Hermione as a hero. Everyone saw her block the first spell and not retaliate. She only acted to defend the helpless fleeing non-combatants from the near free for all. Initially, she argued against it but eventually gave in to public demand that she be rewarded for her bravery. Severus asked her to schedule her presentation in June after exams due to the increase in interested students. She arranged for Percy and Ted to join her. She thought it would help generate excitement for their classes the next school year.
Neither Marcus nor Rodolphus were best pleased with her behavior. Both had wanted her to take cover and allow others to protect her. Bellatrix hexed both of them and declared herself a proud mother and the matter was dropped.
In Hermione's opinion, the best event was the first official date for Harry and Britta. No friends, no buffer couple, not taking the twins with them, just the two of them going out. Hermione shoved Harry towards the door, "Go. Have fun," she ordered. "Feel free to spend the night, we've got this."
Harry glanced back at his children playing on the floor with Marcus, "I wouldn't want to impose. I shouldn't have given both elves the evening off."
"Nonsense, who's imposing? Now, go have fun." She gave one last push and closed the door behind him. "Geez, I hope we're not that bad."
Marcus rolled onto his back and began pretending Meredith was a dumbbell, much to her delight. "Between Rodolphus and Narcissa you won't get a chance to. Those two are going to be stealing her constantly."
"Her?" questioned Hermione.
"Could be a him, but I like the idea of a daughter."
"Just so long as you aren't disappointed with a son."
"Happy, healthy offspring is all I want." He tickled Meredith. "Right, beautiful? Yes, that's right." He lowered her to the floor and picked up James. "Your turn, little man." He began raising and lowering the baby.
Hermione watched them, a small smile brightening her face. "Harry's instructions say it is time for dinner, I'll go get that put together."
"Oh boy, mashed carrots and mushy peas for hungry babies. Hmmm, mushy peas for hungry uncles, too?"
"I'm sure that can be arranged," she laughed. Together they had dinner, gave two five-month-olds their baths, and rocked them to sleep. At that point, both elves shooed them out.
"Go sleep, Kreacher made mistress's old bed."
"Thank you," she took Marcus's hand. "Let's head to bed."
Snuggled under the covers he rubbed her stomach, "Soon we'll be the ones fighting Bee for baby time."
"You're excited about this, aren't you?" she asked stroking his arm.
"I am," he hugged her closer.
-O-
Ginny stared at the clock. With no family support, and the need to save money for her support, she couldn't afford a solicitor to fight the divorce. She hadn't spoken to any of her brothers since before Ron's arrest. She wasn't sure she could have handled the rejection right now. So, she sat waiting for her husband to deign to grace her with his presence. The front door clicked open. She followed his progress through the house by his footsteps. Removing his outer robes, checking for the post, and climbing the stairs to his study. She stood as the door swung open. "Well, hello, dearest. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I wanted to inform you I won't fight our divorce. I wanted to discuss our separation."
"What do you suggest?" he asked, coming around his desk to sit.
"We each keep our separate bank vaults. I keep any items I possessed before the wedding, and any gifts given after."
He wrinkled his forehead, "I gave you a handful of small trinkets."
"As much of a wreck as this has been, I would like to know my little things aren't being parceled out to my replacement. Not that I am suggesting you would even do such a thing. But what need have you of a silver hairbrush or a glass perfume bottle?"
"I have none, point taken."
"And I would like to keep the last name Rowle. I will not trouble you, I will decline to speak with the press. I will endeavor to let you forget I even exist."
Rowle paused, letting her keep the name, knowing she could ill afford to drag it through the mud, could do him more good than her. He was divorcing her after her children were not his, and that was acceptable. But being cordial and letting her avoid the humiliation of going back to her family name would make him look even better, especially given her circumstances, "You'll swear an oath to that?"
She swallowed, "Not an Unbreakable one. I would hate for one wrong word spoken at the wrong time to kill me. And I select the wording."
"Let's hear it then," he said.
"I, Ginerva Molly, swear upon my magic to speak only well of my spouse, and former spouse, to the best of my knowledge and ability. I will endeavor not to besmirch our shared last name, So mote it be."
"That is acceptable," he nodded. "I will have my solicitor draw up the papers." Since she was being cordial, he decided not to reverse the small amounts she had skimmed off of their shared vault. "After the hearing, you can have two weeks to find someplace to live. I may know of someone with a place. It isn't fancy, but it is affordable."
"Thank you," she replied, clearly surprised by his generosity. For a moment she regretted her actions. If she hadn't resorted to deceit, perhaps they could have had a real relationship. Then she remembered how it had all started. They had been a good time with one another and nothing more.
The judge agreed to everything they had suggested and two weeks after signing divorce papers, Ginny moved into a one-bedroom flat off Knockturn Alley. She had a harder time finding gainful employment. She had no NEWTs, and despite getting to keep her married name, had been linked to her brother and mother in the gossip mill. She ended up working in a shop just down from her flat.
Mid-June brought warmer temperatures and an ache in her back. When Adrian point out her waddle she hexed him so hard that the effects lasted three days. She also admitted to irrational mood swings, at least privately. She hated feeling like that, raging one second, sobbing in regret the next. Marcus took everything in stride. He weathered the storms and died her tears. He fed cravings, rubbed her feet, and ran warm baths. When she apologized for being an insane person, he reminded her all of it was because she was giving him a child. "And I thoroughly enjoyed the insatiable sex period," he mentioned waggling his eyebrows.
The morning of their presentation Hermione arranged to meet Ted and Percy at Hogwarts after breakfast. Severus and McGonagall both demanded she come for breakfast. The headmaster again offered the use of his floo. "Oh, Hermione, look at you. You're glowing," gushed McGonagall.
"And am the size of a small pony," she replied.
"Nonsense, you look lovely and are the appropriate size for your gestation period," Severus told her. "Any changes needed for your potions?"
"Not unless you have one that stops mood swings," she joked.
He shook his head, "I'm afraid you will have to weather the hormonal waves. Those are a necessary natural process."
"I figured, but felt it only fair to ask. How have you both been?"
McGonagall smiled, "Much better since you were able to remove the blind devotion to Dumbledore. While I regret the years of enabling and bullying he allowed, I and the other teachers are determined to support Severus in his quest to end that cycle."
"And I appreciate it. Shall we move into my office in an attempt to arrive at breakfast before the food gets cold?" Severus held the door open for the ladies.
Hermione smiled brightly at the portraits of former headmasters. "Good morning, everyone," she chirped. "Has Severus kept you abreast of the latest news, Albus?"
"He has not, and based on the maniacal smile on your face I will not be pleased to hear it."
"Oh, decidedly not. The remnants of your precious Order of the Phoenix attempted to subvert justice and attacked the Ministry. They are all sentenced to life in Azkaban. More humane than a Dementor's Kiss, don't you think? And Ronald will remain in a mental hospital until he is no longer a danger to society." She shook her head. "You really should have encouraged your followers to think for themselves and move with the times." She turned to Severus, "I am famished. You should feed me."
"This way, madame." Severus flourished a grand gesture towards the door.
She ignored the stares of the curious students as best she could, seated between the headmaster and his deputy. She ate everything with the relish of the pregnant woman she was. She answered the inquiries of her former teachers about her own life and the lives of her friends. She briefly mentioned Arthur Weasley staying at Shell Cottage. "I get the sense he is in no hurry to return to the Burrow."
"That is understandable. After my husband passed, I sold our house and took up full-time residence in the castle," McGonagall told her. "Perhaps one of the boys could take it over."
"Esme is planning on living with Percy here at the castle, or getting a house in Hogsmeade so she can be close at hand."
"A sensible plan, as Percy will be able to come and go on a daily basis," said Severus. "Though she and the children are perfectly welcome at the school."
"They know. George mentioned Charlie and his fiance are returning to Britain maybe they would like it."
"Also entirely possible the twins could take it, with the proper renovations they could both live there with their families," mused Hermione."
"You think they could convince two women to share one house?" questioned Professor Flitwick.
"They managed to convince them to marry them, I think that would be the harder proposal. And I mentioned renovations, it could house separate living quarters to grant privacy when desired. Muggles have houses designed like that to varying degrees." She shrugged, "But not my circus, not my monkeys." She smiled at Percy coming towards them and changed the subject away from his family's drama.
Severus transformed the Great Hall into a large lecture hall, smirking at Hermione and Ted when they realized it resembled one found at muggle universities. She shared the joke with Percy, who chuckled as well. Severus introduced them before turning things over to Hermione.
"Good morning, I suppose I should explain what Professor Tonks and I found so amusing. I was raised in the muggle world for reasons that are no one's business but my parents, so don't even start asking. I am not a teacher, I will hex you. Headmaster Snape has turned the Great Hall into a university lecture hall. A place where muggles gather for advanced classes. I will leave explaining the intricacies of them to Professor Tonks next year, but this ties into what we wanted to show you.
"Once upon a time wizards and muggles lived next to one another. At one time in near each other in almost harmony. Muggle ingenuity lead to advances in architecture, heating, plumbing, and transportation. Wizards took these advances and created spells to mimic the improve them." With Ted and Percy's help, she began showing examples of what she meant. "The exciting part of this is a return to these ideas. While we will remain separate from the muggle world, the ministry is currently working to create cinemas and television programming. To begin with, some of these will be broadcasts of muggle programs while we work to create our own programming. But I have it on very good authority that the first theater will be constructed in Hogsmeade."
"How good?" yelled someone from the crowd.
"The level no one in their right or wrong mind says no to," she shot back. The crowd laughed. "These are the kinds of things Professor Tonks will be covering. And for those of you raised more in the muggle world, Professor Weasley will be helping you learn to navigate this new world of ours." The gathering buzzed with excited whispers. The new professors fielded as many questions as Hermione did. Everyone declared it a rousing success.
Escorting her back to his floo, Snape asked, "Given flexibility with the little one's arrival in October, might you be open to repeating this venture with different topics related to Circe, and maybe even Merlin?"
"I might even find the time to put together some things about the Founders," she offered. "The information wasn't meant to be hoarded. I will share it, in my own way and time. Perhaps lectures at Hogwarts will be the mechanism."
"We would be honored if you decided to go that route," he promised her.
"Thank you. Especially for the prenatal potions. Compared to Luna's these are quite superior. I almost feel guilty not sharing. But she intends to start brewing her own, so there is that."
"I am sure she will create some interesting concoctions. Tell Mr. Graham to contact me if she poisons herself."
"I will."
July brought the pressing need to select baby names to the forefront of Hermione's mind. She waited until Marcus returned from training to point this out. "We have less than four months and the baby will be here needing a name."
"I would try to assure you we have time, but I think you might throw that heavy-looking book at me."
"I would," she agreed.
"So, what kind of name are you thinking? Traditional? Family? Modern? Would you like to use your parents' names?"
"No, I thought about it, but I knew when I agreed to the blood adoption I was leaving that family behind. They are gone, and I don't want that reminder."
He hugged her tightly, "I understand. I would prefer we avoid the Black family star thing."
"Indeed, some horrible names there. Tell Draco I said that." They laughed. "Does your family have traditions?"
"For boys names beginning with M. But we don't have to."
She thought for a moment. "How about we come up with a list of M names and see if we like any of them?"
"Okay, what about for a girl?"
"Let's go with names starting with M unless we find something we like better."
"Sounds like a plan. Feel better?"
"A little," she admitted.
Hermione suggested Madeleine, Mallory, and Mira for a girl. Marcus came up with Maeve, Marissa, and Myra. For a boy, he had Michael, Myles, or Maxwell. She supplied Malik, Matthew, or Marius. After much discussion, they agreed on Marissa Nicole and Matthew Allen.
The baby boom floodgates opened. Luna learned she was having identical twins. Penny announced her pregnancy, as did several of Penny's friends. Daphne reported Padma Patil had let slip Pavarti told her Lavender Brown was pregnant. "Poor thing. I'm sure she doesn't know what to do."
"If I was her I would pretend it was a muggle one-night stand and raise it as a Brown," stated Hermione.
"Me, too. Better an unknown paternity than confirm my child was Prewett's," Daphne sniffed. "How much longer until Baby Flint makes a grand entrance?"
"Second week of October, so another two months. And I'm counting the days. Though I have a few distractions planned."
"Oh?"
"Jamie and Merrie turn 1 at the beginning of November, Harry and I will plan the party before D-Day. And the others are on a need-to-know basis."
"Meaning I do not want to know," Daphne said.
Privately, Hermione thought it was far too easy to bribe the Azkaban guards. She wanted to talk to Molly Prewett and she did not want anyone told. The men in her life were starting to stomp on her last nerve. She was pregnant, but that did not make her incapable of basic human functioning. As a concession to the dangers, she took Harry with her. She also thought he deserved the chance to have a few words with Molly about the life lessons she taught her youngest children.
To ward off the chill of the northern Atlantic she wore Eleanor's cashmere coat infused with a warming charm. "Please do not catch a cold," Harry begged her on a boat, "Marcus will kill me."
"I have charmed my coat, my socks, and my hat. I will be fine. Worry about yourself." She smirked when his teeth chattered.
A prison official met them at the dock. "Mrs. Flint? Mr. Potter?" They nodded. "Follow me." The portly older man led them into the bleak stone tower. "We have restricted the dementors to the prisoners' areas."
"That was very considerate, thank you," said Hermione.
"You are most welcome," He escorted them to a small room. Two guards flanked a door. "Should you want to leave before time is up simply knock on the door." Both of them nodded and entered the room. "They'll bring her in presently."
Harry and Hermione sat at the table and waited in silence. They heard Molly berating the guards and demanding to know what was going on. The door opened revealing the pair. Molly instantly fell silent. "Sit," commanded a guard. Molly sat and the guards left.
Molly stared at the pair sullenly. Hermione quirked an eyebrow, "What? No diatribe about how this is all my fault? How disappointing." Molly glared silently. "I expected breaking you to take longer." "Why waste my breath? You know what you did."
"The only thing I did was free myself from the manipulation of a horrible old man. Then I gave others the facts and let them make their OWN choices. Something denied to me."
"You make it sound like it was all bad. He helped you keep focused on the mission." Molly responded.
"He forced me into single-minded focus to the exception of all else, which eroded my self-esteem. Then you made me date your bisexual son because I could be ordered into being the perfect spouse. Disgusting."
"But you always did take the easy route, didn't you," asked Harry softly. "A potion to get Arthur's attention, a spell to get your way. Who cares who gets hurt so long as you get what you want?" He glared at her, "Was it the prestige of being related to the Boy-Who-Lived or the chance at my money?" Molly hung her head refusing to answer.
"We're not here for answers. We generously came with information." Hermione smiled a vicious little smile. "Ron's settling into his new home. Maybe someday we'll tell him you're alive." Molly sputtered. "They don't want to overwhelm him with too much news."
Harry picked up the conversation, "Percy and Esme decided to get married at Shell Cottage, which is perfect. Percy wanted a family connection, Esme wanted a beach."
Hermione smiled at Molly, "Arthur has been living with Bill and Fleur. The twins have decided to renovate the Burrow with an eye towards settling down."
"Don't forget, Charlie and Svetlana are staying with them until their place at the reserve is finished," Harry added.
"Why are you doing this?" cried Molly.
"So you know how your children are doing," replied Hermione calmly. She looked at Harry, "Did I tell you I saw Ginny? Thorfinn let her keep his name. Pavarti told me she's living on Knockturn Alley and working in a muggle shop."
"That's good, I suppose," he shrugged.
"Beats starving in the streets," replied Hermione. She smirked at Molly, "Too bad she lacked a good role model."
Molly gave a strangled shout of outrage, "You ungrateful brats. After everything, I did for you..."
With narrowed eyes and arms across their chests, the two glared at her. "What altruistic thing did you ever do for us?" demanded Hermione.
"I welcomed you into my home."
"So you could encourage friendships with the Boy-Who-Lived," retorted Harry.
"And keep tabs on me for Dumbledore."
"And don't even start with the idea that you feed us and all that shite. We don't mean just something that looked good on the surface. Something you did without motive or for gain; a truly selfless act." Hermione shot back. Again Molly sputtered, "That's what we thought." They stood. "We'll visit again to keep you up-to-date." They smiled as Molly gashed her teeth. Harry knocked on the door. "We're done, thank you. Bye, Ms. Prewett."
The guards returned their wands and escorted them to the dock. "That went well," remarked Harry.
"Indeed," answered Hermione. They linked arms and walked out the waiting ship.
Having no use for it Hermione lent Merlin's cowl to Yaxley to research. "No point in it rotting away in my attic," she dimpled coyly.
"Minx." He reverently stroked the box containing the artifact.
"It was pointed out to me that I don't like that others hoard family knowledge, so I am leading my example. I'm sharing a little at a time."
"You're going to share all of it eventually then?" he looked surprised.
"No, some it is not appropriate for our time. No one needs a spell to slowly internally roast someone. That can stay hidden." Yaxley nodded his agreement of her assessment.