Disclaimer: JK Rowling presented seven years of a school which was supposed to have existed for centuries. Hogwarts 1835 had little from canon besides location. Hogwarts 1940 could serve as a prequel to the canon books. This sequel to 1835 has little from canon but some family names and a location or two, but those are from Rowling's books. Similarities to any person, living are dead, with the characters in this story is an amazing coincidence.

My parameters for what constitutes canon are defined at the end of chapter one.

Chapter 5 – Much Ado about Nothing

Vivien and Kitty spent much of their time until Saturday riding around the park. Kitty, who arrived in possession of good riding skills, progressed faster in her ability to ride with a skirt than Miss Kestrel made in basic riding.

Everyone in the household rose early on Saturday. No one relished the prospect of the day ahead. Titus Malfoy participated in the neighborhood ritual only from a sense of duty to appearances. Claudius Malfoy participated in the ritual only from a sense of duty towards his father. Kitty enjoyed the thought of a good ride, but had already expressed her dislike for the hunt itself, and Vivien feared a day on horseback would expose her deficiencies as a rider and leave her both sore and exposed to ridicule. Matthias Prewett was the most fortunate of the group, too well established in the local minds as a servant of some sort to have been invited he would spend the day working in solitude.

Claudius laughed when Vivien entered the dining room for breakfast.

"What's wrong?" she demanded.

"What you're wearing."

She blushed, unaccustomed to anyone finding fault with her attire. "And what's wrong with it?"

"It is too formal," Mr. Malfoy explained. "The hunting season does not begin until the autumn. You should wear something simple and… Is that brand new?"

"Yes."

He sighed, "Miss Kelly, would you see if there is some riding habit among my wife's clothing which might fit Miss Kestrel? Something plain."

Kitty nodded and led the mortified Vivien from the room.

"We have orders for outfits like this at the shop," Vivien protested as they climbed the stairs.

"He said something about seasons," Kitty reminded her. "They must have some kind of rules about what you can wear or when you can wear it. I certainly don't know what the rules are."

The late Mrs. Malfoy had been somewhere between the two young women in size. Kitty had worn enough hand-me-downs that clothing a few inches too long did not disturb her. Vivien, accustomed to dresses custom tailored for her, felt uncomfortable in another woman's clothes, even with alteration charms which modified them to suit her frame.

Clarence had the horses saddled and the dogcart waiting when they arrived at the stables. Half a dozen hounds bayed from the area beneath the seat at their master's presence. "Need me for anything here?"

"No, you should have left."

The stableman climbed onto the seat and cracked the whip to get the horse moving.

"He'll need to stay on the road. We can leave the road at two points and save time," he explained to the women. Vivien felt slightly alarmed at the news. She did not ride well and had worried simply about not falling too badly behind during the chase. Now she faced the prospect of riding across country of uncertain difficulty both before and after the afternoon's chase.

"I shall probably introduce you as distant relatives," Titus warned them as they kept together on the road. "There are no muggle schools which allow men and women to study together so I cannot introduce you as acquaintances of Claudius from school."

"Muggles don't allow men and women to study together?" Kitty asked.

He shrugged, "I know of no respectable muggle school which allows the practice. Some dissenters have established schools of their own, but I have no idea what they might do. And I will plead that, since the wizarding community is relatively small, there is a good chance we are all related to one another – albeit sometimes distant and tenuous connections."

Vivien, who had no qualms about the idea of becoming even closer with the Malfoy family, had a question about the day. "What should we know about our host for today's hunt?"

Mr. Malfoy thought for a moment, weighing the opposing virtues of honesty and courtesy before answering in the spirit of honesty. "I doubt if Squire Whitley has added a book to the family library during his lifetime. He eats and drinks too much and lives for hunting season. His wife is a devotee of too much ornamentation about the house and her clothing. Their older son, Frederick, follows his father in eating and drinking too much and lives for his father to die so that he can inherit the property."

"Sounds like a family of monsters," Kitty commented. "Why do you bother?"

"My father avoided all possible contact with the muggles in the area," Titus told them. "And there are days when I can understand his behavior. But I feel one has a duty to one's neighbors. The younger son, Rupert, studies law in the city. He is always worth talking to, if he is there today. There will be a number of families here today and most will have superior manners to our hosts. Mrs. Malfoy had some muggles she regarded as intimate friends among the group."

Kitty had a request, "I'd prefer not to be introduced as a relative. Not that I don't approve of your family, but if I hear of work I'm on the market. Introduce me as a lady companion to Viv."

"You do realize these are all muggles?" her host reminded her.

"If you've got naught in the way of prospects and no money in the bank you'll work for Nick himself if it pays."

"Kitty!" Vivien exclaimed.

"You don't know how good you've got it," her friend shot back.

There was less opportunity for conversation as they left the road, and no sign of the dogcart and hounds when they arrived at another country home. More than a score of horses grazed in front of the house, waiting for the start of the chase. Most of the riders stood in groups, conversing and waiting for others to arrive. A woman noticed the approaching four and shouted a booming, "Hallo!" as she waved.

Titus Malfoy doffed his hat to acknowledge the greeting. "Mrs. March," he said quietly to the two women. "A fine rider. My wife was a great favorite of hers."

The call attracted the attention of others to the new arrivals and a stout man moved in their direction. "Lord Malfoy, glad you made it. Your hounds?"

"New man at the stables. He should have left earlier, but I trust he shall be here shortly."

Claudius felt no compulsion to stay with the others. He knew where the young men could be found in the house having glasses of wine prior to the hunt and went to join them. Kitty dismounted, but stayed near the horses. "Let me speak with Mrs. March for a moment," Titus said to Vivien. The blond witch waited nervously, unsure of what she should do since no formal introductions had been made to anyone. Despite the lack of introductions the men outside the house began to gravitate in her direction.

Mr. Malfoy received a cheery greeting from the older woman, "Titus, good to see you. Good to see Sparta too. Wondered if you'd put him out to stud."

"That was my desire. I have a house guest who insisted he be ridden."

The woman laughed, "Glad you listened to reason. Damn fine animal. Who are these two fillies you brought with you?"

"I assume that you mean Miss Kestrel and her companion, Miss Kelly. Miss Kestrel is a distant relative. Miss Kelly is the one who insists Sparta be ridden. She is quite a rider. She'll probably be up at the head today."

"Sparta doesn't know another position. Introduce me to the young woman."

"She is not really—"

"I want to know who I'll be riding with."

Titus sighed, and called Miss Kelly over to make introductions. "Mrs. March, I would like to introduce you to Catherine Kelly. Miss Kelly, may I introduce Mrs. April March. Mrs. March is usually at the head of the riders and—"

"I'm always at the head," Mrs. March interrupted. "Titus said he thinks you're quite a rider."

"Kitty, m'am," the Irish girl said, and stuck out her hand for the older woman to shake. "Raised with horses. Think my mount's a bit out of shape, but if the chase isn't long he'll be fine."

The older woman chuckled, "Raised with horses myself. Don't know if Titus here told you, but I have the finest stables in the county. Sparta was foaled there, wouldn't have sold him if I'd known how well he'd turn out." She turned to Mr. Malfoy, "I must have you to dinner while this one's here. She seems like an interesting creature."

"She is that," Titus agreed. While they were talking Clarence arrived with the dog cart and Kitty, believing her part in the conversation was over, walked over to help with the hounds.

"So, that other one… You said her name was Kestrel?"

"Yes."

"Wife for Claudius?"

"No."

"Considering it?"

"No."

"Emma used to say she sometimes despaired of finding a good fit. Never told me why, don't suppose you'd care to elaborate."

"April, if you had not been such a friend to Emma I would find that exceedingly rude."

"Pish-tush, it's exceedingly rude even if I was Emma's friend. Care to tell me what's wrong with the girl, the men are swarming around her like flies and honey."

"She is a city girl, no sense of the country."

"One can learn."

"She is also vain and far too certain of herself – she has succeeded in life because of her beauty and relies on her physical appearance rather than character."

"Anything wrong with her character?"

"Not that I know of, I really scarcely know her."

"Well, city mouse out here in the country… Any chance you are considering her for yourself?"

"April!"

"Oh, don't protest like that. You're not so old and not so plain. You're the best catch for forty miles in any direction. If I were twenty years younger I'd be chasing you myself. Which reminds me, some sister of Bedford here today – up at the house primping I believe. What I hear she'll be hunting you rather than the fox today."

"So both she and Abigail?"

"What was it that novelist said, something about 'a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife.'?"

"I am not interested."

"Well, you should be. Emma wanted you to be happy."

"I do not believe that marriage is a prerequisite for happiness. You didn't remarry."

"If the right man came along I wouldn't hesitate. I still don't see what is wrong with Abbie… Except the rest of her family, of course. You shouldn't hold that against her. Maybe you'll be more interested in Lydia Bedford – that's her name, Lydia. Less dowry than Abbie – not that you need a dowry."

"I require neither dowry nor a wife, but I appreciate the warning."

"If you really wish to avoid them ask George to put you in as whip. He's hunt master himself today."

As the hour for the hunt arrived Claudius and the young men in the house came outside, with most of the group joining the throng around Vivien. Abigail made her way towards Titus as he was introduced to Lydia Bedford. Abigail glared at her rival and Titus said a little prayer of thanks that he had taken the advice of Mrs. March. Serving as whip allowed him the opportunity to politely avoid the muggle women who would be hunting him. Kitty stayed with the horses, and April March noted with surprise how well her own mount, who tended to be skittish around strangers, accepted the presence of the Irish girl.

Soon the hounds were cast and everyone was on horseback, moving across a field. Sparta, by force of long-established habit, took his place by Mrs. March's mount in the first field. "He's not back to full strength," the older woman commented.

"I'll pull him back if the ride goes long," Kitty promised. "He wants a good run."

Kitty patted Sparta's neck to keep him calm before the horn sounded, and April March demanded to know why it was taking so long for the hounds to pick up a scent.

The Irish girl almost lost her mount at the second hedge. "Are you all right?" the older woman asked.

"Not used to riding in a skirt." Seeing the question in the older woman's eyes she explained, "I like to wear trousers when I ride."

"You can only ride as well as a man if you wear trousers," Mrs. March warned her. "A lady should be able to both wear a skirt and jump."

"Yes, m'am," she promised, "I'll watch you."

Vivien rode with the second field, but even with the gaters she did not feel secure in the saddle and it was obvious the pretty witch was the slowest of the group. She beckoned the men around her to leave her and join the others – more because she didn't want them to observe how poorly she rode than for any displeasure at being the center of masculine attention.

The baying of the hounds encouraged the second field to increase their pace, and soon Vivien was lost from them, and any landmarks she might possibly recognize, entirely. She would have turned around and head back to the home of their hosts – but was confused about directions and realized she could not find her way.

The fox managed to go to ground. There was a discussion about whether it should be dug out and killed, but those in favor of observing the season won the argument and it was spared.

Mr. Malfoy spent the ride back between two women making desperate efforts to fascinate him, and like Kitty, who was engaged in conversation with Mrs. March, didn't even realize Vivien was missing.

Back at the Whitley's the hunters left their horses to be cared for, but Kitty called for a curry comb and began to work on Sparta herself.

"You should let the help take care of the horses," Mrs. March told her.

"Want it done right should do it yourself, my Da always said," the redhead replied. "Besides, I want to check him over after the ride, see what shape he's in."

Despite her youth the Irish girl clearly understood horses and the older woman stayed to watch her work on Sparta.

"Did your father have other words of wisdom in regard to horses?" the older woman asked.

"Not a man alive knows more about horses than my Da. People come from miles to have him treat any ailments. He can fix any problem except maybe death itself – and he's cheated the reaper a few times."

Mrs. March smiled, "Your loyalty is to be commended."

"Not loyalty," Kitty insisted. "God's own truth."

After looking after the hounds Mr. Malfoy and Clarence came over to where Claudius's horse stood and Kitty worked on Sparta.

"Clarence should do that," Titus told her.

"She believes she can do a better job," April told him, with a tone of amusement. "And she seems remarkably capable. She claims her father has powers just short of miraculous."

"Did'na say that," Kitty corrected her. "He can do miracles, just not every time."

Clarence gave her a look of hatred no one noticed, resenting her actions because he viewed them as an insult to his abilities.

"I just figure Clarence'll be busy," Kitty said, "got four horses to do an' all." She looked around. "Where is Viv?"

"I haven't seen her since the hunt started."

"Neither have I."

"She was riding with the second field," Mrs. March pointed out. She looked around and noticed one of the riders from the second group. "Willy!" she bellowed, "over here!"

It was a tone of voice that brought the young man over at a trot. "Yes."

"Miss Kestrel?"

"What?"

"The pretty blond. What happened to her?"

"I... She had some trouble keeping up with the other riders and told us to go on. I imagined she came back here. Isn't she here?"

"Don't be daft, boy. Would I be asking about her if she were here?"

While William pondered the answer to her riddle Titus Malfoy got back on his horse, which had not been unsaddled.

"Want some help?" Mrs. March offered.

"I could put a saddle back on Sparta," Kitty added.

"Miss Kestrel is my guest, and therefore my responsibility," he told the women. He gave Mrs. March a wink, "And it's probably much safer for me to be away from the hunters."

He frowned as he followed the trail, it was so clearly marked by the passage of the horses Vivien should have been able to follow it back. As a witch she could have handled any threat of muggle violence, and he felt fairly certain that, given her riding skills, she would not have attempted a jump. On the other hand, if she had gotten overconfident and attempted a jump, she could be lying hurt by some hedge or fence. Sam could also have been startled and thrown her. He began to wish he had accepted help in the search for the missing witch.

He discovered Vivien a moment later, standing beside her horse some fifty yards from the hunters' path and looking uncertain. "Are you all right?"

"I got lost."

"The track of the horses is here, why didn't you follow it back?"

"It is? I didn't see it."

"The hoof marks are quite plain."

"Well I didn't see them."

"It doesn't matter, mount up and let's go back."

"I'd rather not."

"You'd rather not go back?"

"I'd rather not get back on the horse."

"It's a good three miles back to the house."

"Three miles? I... I can walk, just please point me in the proper direction."

"Is there some reason for this behavior?"

"What behavior do you mean? Isn't it a beautiful day for a walk?"

"Did Sam throw you, and you are afraid to get back on?"

"Sam has behaved in a perfect manner. I simply feel like walking."

"And I feel that is very odd behavior under the circumstances."

"There is nothing odd in walking!"

"It still appears to me that you..." Titus paused. "How much practice have you had the last few days in riding?"

Vivien blushed and said nothing.

"Blisters?" he asked. She said nothing. "Is that the reason?" he demanded. Vivien nodded.

Titus sighed. He was almost tempted to leave her out in the field for misrepresenting her riding ability, but she was his guest and his responsibility. And, in addition, there were two muggle women lying in wait to ambush him on his return. He dismounted, "I'll walk back with you. I wouldn't want you to lose your way again."

"Thank you." As they walked back she sought a topic of conversation other than the reason she wanted to travel on foot, "What happened with the hunt?"

He described the hunt, or at least that portion of it which he had seen, for a mile before returning to her condition. "Will you be able to ride back to my home?"

"I'm sure I... Or rather, I hope that in a couple hours I... If I had the proper ingredients I know a potion that... I don't know."

"Claudius sometimes took the dogcart home and our old stableman would ride his horse. Can you handle the cart? There are cushions on it."

Vivien ventured to guess Claudius would only take the cart if he had consumed more wine than was appropriate, but didn't voice her suspicion. "I'm not certain... Maybe Kitty could drive me."

"Perhaps," he said, simply to acknowledge having heard her.

They walked a quarter mile in silence, then Vivien spoke, "I had no idea there were so many rules associated with the country."

"I don't imagine there are any more than the number associated with the city."

"I can learn them," she insisted. "I do not think they are wrong, simply different. I will learn."

"I don't believe you will need to worry about hunting etiquette," he told her. "There will be no more exercises during your visit. Riding is a skill you might wish to continue practicing, however."

"I will learn what is expected when hunting," Vivien promised. "It will be a duty when I am mistress of the estate."

They lapsed back into silence, which was broken by the arrival of two women riders.

Abigail and Lydia both glared at the pretty witch walking beside Titus Malfoy and for a moment he considered pretending a preference for Vivien in order to shield himself from the muggles, but quickly dismissed the lie as inappropriate.

"Are you all right?" Abigail asked.

"I was worried about you," Lydia assured him.

"Mrs. March said you'd ridden out–"

"Miss Kestrel is a guest at my home," he explained. "She did not return from the hunt and I worried she had been thrown."

"Is she all right?" Lydia asked Titus, not really caring, but desiring to look concerned.

Abigail questioned him also, "Why aren't you riding? Did her horse throw her? Did he throw a shoe?"

Vivien said nothing, being ashamed of losing her way and not wishing to mention why she wasn't riding.

"Miss Kestrel is visiting from London, and finds our air so delightful she desired to walk back to the Whitleys."

"I- I lost my way," Vivien admitted. "Mr Malfoy found me and was showing me the proper direction."

The story appeared highly suspicious to Abigail, who wondered if this pretty girl wanted to flatter Titus by appearing weak and helpless. If that were her ploy it was doomed to fail – Abigail knew that from personal experience. She wasn't certain which of the other women to fear more. Lydia's move into the neighborhood marked her as a long term rival. The girl was young and lovely, and staying at the Malfoy home - a potentially very dangerous rival indeed. The gossip back at the Whitleys, however, was that she might marry Claudius. Abigail decided she should make an effort to establish a good relationship with her future daughter-in-law and dismounted. "I'll walk with you."

Lydia cursed inwardly, she did not enjoy a lengthy walk. Still, if her brother was correct Lord Malfoy had little interest in Abigail. That meant Abie would provide a necessary distraction from the young woman - should he be interested in her. She smiled, the two other women would certainly perspire from their exertions and she might be wise not to appear too forward. "I'll go back and tell everyone you are fine and returning."

Their hosts provided light refreshment while the hunters' mounts rested for their return journeys. To the dismay of Titus Malfoy he was unable to escape his pursuers. The gravitational pull of Vivien's beauty once again attracted many of the young men, and even some of the older men who prayed their wives were not looking. To Vivien's dismay, however, Claudius was not among their number - returning to the delights of a very fine French vintage in the house. Although not especially interested in hunting, Kitty's riding skill had brought her to the attention of several riders in the first field and she remained near Mrs. March. The other riders appreciated a new pair of ears to regale with stories of past hunts, Kitty suspected the majority of the tales were greatly exaggerated if not outright lies.

Vivien heard many references to the Glorious Twelfth, but wasn't certain what the topic of conversation concerned.

Late in the afternoon Mr. Malfoy thanked the Whitleys and announced it was time for his party to return home. He declined another offer for the four of them to stay for dinner and spend the night and went to find Claudius.

As he feared, Claudius was not in a condition to ride. "You can drive the dogcart. Miss Kestrel will ride with you."

"Trying to throw us together," his son asked, slurring his words slightly, "or find out she has no business on a horse?"

"She is not incompetent, merely inexperienced. And I think she has reached the limits of her ability for the day."

Titus might not have regarded it as trying to throw the two young people together, but Vivien certainly meant to take advantage of the opportunity on the return journey.

After a mile of silence the other riders were nowhere to be seen and Vivien opened the conversation. "I believe your father invited me for the visit because he considered me a possible marriage partner for you."

"I believe it more likely he had his eye on Lizzy."

"I–"

"Not that it really matters. I like you better."

"Thank you. And I–"

"But if the truth be known, I've no intention of marrying. I don't need a wife any more than I need an elephant. Either would be equally worthless to me."

"You might let me finish a sentence."

"Oh, have you anything worthwhile to say?"

"You are exceedingly rude."

"No, but I am slightly drunk. My father can be honest when sober. For me, in vino veritas."

"You must marry. It is your responsibility."

"How many years have we known each other... Seven? Have you ever known a person less interested in responsibility?"

"But the property–"

"Is of no interest to me... Oh, in an abstract sort of way the revenues of the property are certainly of interest. Poverty holds even less interest to me than the property. But I'll die without an heir and–"

"You could have–"

"I will let you finish your next sentence if you will let me finish my speech. I will die without heir, and the property will pass to some cousin. If father were old and decrepit I might wait for him to die and give the cousin possession as long as he provides me with a small allowance – enough to live in modest comfort someplace where the name of Malfoy is unknown. But father's health is probably better than my own. And while I love him and wish a long and happy life for him it does rather throw my plans into disarray."

"May I be allowed a speech of my own?"

"You may."

"I will attempt, like your father, to be honest while sober. I like you, but my interest is marriage is strictly for security. I know you have no interest in marriage to me, but marriage would provide you with a cover of respectability. I would not seek to dictate your life and would leave you free to follow your own interests. To all the world it would appear a satisfactory marriage, and in truth it would be – I would have the security I desire and you the freedom to follow your own interests."

He smiled, "You almost make it sound possible."

"I know charms, I know potions. An heir is not out of–"

Claudius lost the smile, "No," he said flatly.

"But–"

"No."

"Why?"

He didn't answer for a minute. "I understand responsibility. I simply don't want any. A child is a responsibility, and one to be taken seriously."

"I could raise a child. You would be free to follow your desires."

"No. If I were to father a child I would recognize that I bore a responsibility. It is why I don't want the property. It is a responsibility. It takes my father's life. That is his choice – I think he devotes too much time to work on the estate since my mother died, but that is his desire. It is not my desire. I want some other choice. I want to go where no one knows me and do as I want. I don't want bishops dropping in. I don't want Whitleys and Bedfords and Marches and other neighbors observing me and my actions."

"I believe your father indicated his father lived very much to himself. Perhaps you could cut off association with the muggles as well."

"And go down to live in the dungeon? No thank you. It is pleasant enough to visit – especially in hot weather – but I wouldn't wish to live there. I want to be able to walk free, when I wish, where I wish, and with whom I wish. But I can't do that here."

"A wife would make it possible."

"No... Tempting as you wish to make it sound, it would not be possible. The name of Malfoy is a millstone around my neck. I told you, I understand responsibility even if I do not wish for any. For more than seven centuries this has been my family's home. I would do nothing to bring disgrace to the name, but I don't want the responsibility that it brings. My needs are few and simple, but not even simplicity is free. I'm cursed. I can neither enjoy freedom if I stay nor can I enjoy poverty if I leave. Happiness is not an option available to me."

"I still think a wife could improve your situation."

"A wife would only be more weight around my neck."

After the conversation much of the trip was spent in silence. Vivien took pen in hand to write Elizabeth on their return.

Dearest Lizzy,
Finally, the chance to talk with Claudius this afternoon.
It did not go as well as I might have wished, but he and
his father are both intelligent men. I am certain that one
will soon be persuaded that I will make an ideal wife
for the son and, with one of them arguing for me the
other will soon be brought to acceptance. After our
conversation it was very clear to me, even if Claudius
does not yet realize it himself, that he greatly needs me
for a wife.
Oh, and we went hunting today at the home of some
neighboring muggles. Mr. Malfoy is very well thought
of by everyone here. I was, of course, the center of
attention for the men and am certain several
women were quite jealous. It appears there is much
more to country life than I had imagined, and
riding a horse infinitely more difficult. I am not
currently in a mood to tell you how I learned that
lesson. Kitty was as popular with some neighbors
who raise horses as I was with the men. I had feared
she might do something to embarrass me, but when
horses are the subject she appears at her best. I wish
you were here to offer insights on how to best
present myself.
Fondest affection,
Viv


Girton College, now part of Cambridge, was founded for women in 1869. Oxford added a women's college, distinct from the university, in 1878. Quaker schools were co-ed earlier. Gilbert & Sullivan mocked women's education in Princess Ida, 1884.

'Hello' appears in publications from the 1830s, but earlier forms, such as 'hallo' remained dominate for a number of years.

The Glorious Twelfth (August 12th, start of season for Red Grouse - unless it falls on a Sunday) had been made official with the Game Act of 1831. If conservation was a goal the Game Act had mixed results since it didn't stop the rapid decline in Britain's great bustard population which was soon extinct on the isles.