Parental Disputes

Dumbledore was given only minutes to prepare for the tidal-wave of anger that Molly Weasley would bring. He was given these by the portrait of a young girl that hung on his wall. It was the only one that wasn't of a past Head-teacher of the school. She had been visited seconds before by her counterpart from The Burrow.

'Professor' she squeaked. 'Molly is on her way over and she is fuming.'

'Why?' enquired Dumbledore mildly. He knew Molly often got into rages. If Fred and George were still here he would have assumed it was down to them.

'She got a letter this morning from her son Ron. In it he said that he'd found out that his sister was engaged to the Malfoy boy and that they are going to get married at the end of this school year. She is really mad I can tell you, and was preparing to use the Floo network as I snuck out.'

'She doesn't know you ran ahead?'

'Not as far as I'm aware but then she may have seen my empty canvas, I can't be sure. Really Dumbledore, I've not seen her like this since Ron and that Harry crashed the car into the three thing years ago.'

'Thank-you Maud, you may return to your post. Let me know if anything else happens.' Not a second after the figure had vanished then it reappeared again.

'Professor, Lucius is coming over to see you- now. He got an owl from Draco and he'd said that the Weasley parents would be finding out that he was going to marry their daughter in the summer and could he come to support him. He sent me to let you know to expect him, and probably them as well.'

'I had just been informed of Molly's arrival, Maud, from The Burrow. Thank-you though. If you will return to the Malfoy Mansion and alert me to any changes.'

Dumbledore looked around his office. With a flick of his wand, a fire appeared in the grate. Another flick and six chairs appeared in front of the desk. Dumbledore then made his way over to the grate. He through in some powder from his pocket and called into it 'McGonagall, Snape, if you have a moment.'

There was a swishing sound and McGonagall appeared, spinning very fast. She approached the desk and sat in one of the chairs 'Albus, what is the matter?'

'Molly Weasley and Lucius Malfoy are due in a moment I've been told. Apparently there has been some arrangement between Ginny and Draco to get married at the end of this year. It sounds as though Molly had no idea.'

'And Lucius did?'

'It seems that way.' Dumbledore stopped talking when there was a second swishing sound and Lucius appeared, followed by Narcissa. He stood up to greet them. 'Lucius, Narcissa, it's been a long time.'

'Albus' replied Lucius curtly. He escorted his wife to a chair and sat himself next to her. 'I don't know of how much you are aware, Albus, but Draco asked me to be here today. He is engaged to the Weasley girl- Minny and it appears that she never informed her parents of the decision. They may have just found out, or so Draco thought and were likely to be distressed. He asked could I come and explain to them his reasoning, thought they might appreciate it more coming from an adult.'

'Her name is Ginny and I was only made aware of the situation myself a few minutes ago. I can therefore-' he was cut short by more swishing noises from the fire. Mrs Weasley appeared and Mr Weasley followed. As they stepped out, Snape appeared at the door of the office. Dumbledore smiled. 'Ah at last we are all present and correct.'

'I wouldn't quite say that' replied Mrs Weasley. 'It isn't all correct from where I'm sitting.'

'Molly dear please be calm' implored Mr Weasley

'If you would all like to take a seat.' Dumbledore waited until the three newcomers were comfortable before speaking again. 'Now, I was only informed of the situation a few minutes previously and so I have no real views formed on the subject yet. I am unable to understand why such a decision was made and, though it was, why there is such a kafuffle with it?'

'Albus you must understand that Ginny is our only daughter and youngest child. She has loathed the Malfoy boy for years and for us to suddenly hear today that they are going to be married is preposterous. She hasn't been seeing him or ever expressed a liking to him. And to find out through Ron and not Ginny herself. And to hear that they have been 'engaged' for three months is really the limit. You must put a stop to it Albus.'

'I understand Molly, really I do but first I must astatine a few things.' Dumbledore turned towards Snape and McGonagall 'did ether of you know anything of this goings on?'

'Not a thing Albus.' McGonagall was indignant 'They kept their plans well hidden. I had seen that they were more tolerable of each other and their behaviour was nothing like it used to be in my lessons but I put it down to maturity and putting up with the situation.'

'Draco had mentioned once to me that he and the Weasley girl were getting on better than before and he thought perhaps a mutual union was a possibility. He never said that he had actually asked Miss Weasley, nor that she had said yes.'

'Well there you go Albus the whole situation is ridiculous. I suggest we call the two children and put a stop to this once and for all.' Mrs Weasley was triumphant.

'I beg to differ.' Lucius had spoken. 'My son asked Miss Weasley if she would accept him and she did. The whole arrangement is entirely legal and above-board. Both are old enough to decide what they want for themselves. If they choose only to inform,' he paused 'select persons then they are entitled to.' Mrs Weasley starred at Lucius.

'And you are completely happy with this idea. That your only son and my only daughter will spend the rest of their lives together.'

'Yes we are.' It was Narcissa who had answered.

'But they are still so young' cried McGonagall. 'Wouldn't it be better for everyone, if they are intent on being married, to wait a few years? By then both will be working and they may discover that either they do want each other or they don't. Both are still teenagers and still have a lot to learn.'

'No' hissed Lucius. 'I will not have Draco postponing a momentous occasion like this to ''wait and see what happens''. He's a grown man and knows his own mind whatever you might think.' He cast a look at McGonagall.

'It seems as though we are unable to reach a satisfactory conclusion before we bring in Miss Weasley and Mr Malfoy. Therefore we must call them and settle the matter with them present.' Dumbledore nodded at Fawks, who disappeared out the window.

'But there is nothing to settle. They both agreed to marriage and that is that.' Lucius was firm.

'Well, if both parties are willing then, you are right; there is nothing to be done.'

'Albus please you don't understand' Mrs Weasley begged. 'We cannot have Ginny marrying Draco, it's impossible.'

'Molly my dear, if Ginny wants to then you must accept that there is nothing you can do.'

'Arthur, what are we to do?' cried Mrs Weasley.

'We must tell them' he replied. 'It is the only way in which we can put a stop to this nonsense that can never even take place.'

'Is there something we should know?' Dumbledore looked at Molly and Arthur. Both look rather small and nervous. Molly nudged her Husband. He stood up.

'We didn't want to have to tell you this, mainly because it is of no concern to yourselves but also because it doesn't happen very often. As you may or may not be aware Ginny was born a few months before the defeat of You Know Who by Harry Potter. Now, when Molly discovered that she was pregnant we had all the tests done to tell us the birthday, the weight and the sex of the child to be. Naturally we were elated that it was finally a girl. We decided there and then that our little girl wasn't going to have the rough upbringing like Molly did, earning her keep by looking after her brothers, she was going to be treated like a princess.

As you know, the times before You Know Who's defeat were dark and dangerous. Nobody knew if they were going to be alive the next day. It was because of this was wanted to ensure, that if anything did happen to us, that our children, especially the unborn one would be safe. Now the boys could defend for themselves and earn their way in the world but Ginny we weren't sure of. If we died when she was a baby there was no way to secure her future, accept through marriage.

Now, at around a similar time, there was a couple who also discovered they were having a baby and they had tests to tell them when it baby was due and its weight and its sex. And they also felt the need to secure his future, largely because they knew that they were a prime target for You Know Who. It seemed natural to all four of us at the time to make the pact. So we did, we bound our unborn children into a contract of eventually marrying one another when they were older. And it's never been altered. They don't know of course, the children. It would have been far too much responsibility for them to take on at such a tender age. So that's why your son can't marry my daughter, she's betrothed to someone else. And I think you've guessed who it is.'

'Potter' murmured Snape quietly. Dumbledore turned

'It is isn't it! Ginny is to marry Harry Potter.'

'Good heavens no' replied Arthur. 'No, we thought we had to keep the line of blood pure in-case Voldemort did succeed. No, Ginny is engaged to the Longbottom boy. Neville I think they named him.'

'Good Lord' gasped McGonagall. 'Well that is something I never knew. And why do they still not know?'

'Mrs Longbottom, the boys grandmother felt that both children should be allowed to grow up free of the worries that one day the will have to abandon other loves and marry each other. She thought to inform them on the day Ginny leaves Hogwarts.'

There was silence. Nobody knew what to say. The whole idea of the adults meeting here now was absurd.

'Albus, Narcissa and I shall be leaving now. There is no further need for us here. I'm trusting that you shall be informing Miss Weasley who in turn shall inform our Draco of the situation.' Nobody said a word as Lucius and Narcissa left via the fireplace.

'And it truly cannot be broken?' enquired Dumbledore 'the bond I mean. Even now when all the dangers are long gone.'

'We never really investigated into it. You never imagine your child as old enough to be interested in the other sex and that the day of telling them the truth is coming closer and closer. We didn't in our wildest dreams imagine that Ginny would want to marry so soon and so young.'

'And to him' scoffed Molly. 'We imagined if it was anyone it would be Harry.'

'And what would you have done if it was Harry she wanted to marry in the summer and not Draco?' it was Snape who had asked the question.

'We would have used the loophole I think' returned Arthur.

'There is a loophole?' McGonagall was amazed 'well then she can marry Draco after all.'

'No she can't.' Molly was adamant. 'The loop-hole only works if there is a guardian for both children still alive. If one of the persons has their heart set on another then the pact can be broken, but only by the people who made it- the parents or their representative. And since only the parents can break the pact then we would have to agree with the suitor. And I don't agree with the Malfoy boy.'

'And we are not planning on telling either Ginny or Neville of that bit- ever' concluded Arthur. 'So we would appreciate it if you didn't either.' There was a knock at the door. Dumbledore looked at Snape and McGonagall

'Agree?'

'Agreed' they answered in unison.

'Very well. Enter!'

Hee-hee I hope that was a twist you weren't expecting especially because it's Neville. I had written it originally with Harry as the male part of the pact but that seemed so predictable that I felt an urge to change it. Sorry if you wanted Harry instead! R and R as always