Harry Potter and the Jacobite Elves
Rating: M
Summary: Harry takes possession of the Black family's castle in the Highlands of Scotland. Up to and amidst the celebration of Hogmanay (New Year's), he discovers that there is some very old business to attend to.
Disclaimer:
I have not claim to characters or scenes from the Harry Potter series, which belongs to JK Rowling and associates. I get nothing from this except the enjoyment of imagining and writing the story. I am making no money from this (rats).
Some Advice from Older Ladies
In the month of December, Harry Potter sent invitations for his friends, members of the DA, and staff at Hogwarts who had fought at the Battle of Hogwarts. He checked with Fiona, the house elf who was sending out the formal invitations to the members of the regiment, and others, who were either magical or aware of the magical world, and made sure that certain persons were on the list.
As his trip to Australia had been a success both personally and officially, the High Commissioner from Australia was invited as well.
In addition to these chores, Harry spoke to Lindsay concerning the Hogwarts liqueur, to see if she could prepare a non-alcoholic version so that the pregnant ladies could partake. She commented that a non-magical version could be easily prepared, and she had done so already, but a non-alcoholic potion would take some thought and work, but she would get right on it, as the Laird requested.
Harry also made appointments with Augusta Longbottom and Headmistress McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall responded that she and her husband (Sean) would be delighted to attend the ceilidh. Lady Longbottom said that she would be happy to attend, but please do not expect her to lead the dancing.
Harry met with the elder dowager Lady Longbottom (for such was her title now that there was a new 'Lady Longbottom', as the new Head of the House had married, and the younger dowager 'Lady' was ensconced in a ward at St Mungo's with her husband who, due to his irreversible infirmity, under magical law had unknowingly passed the title to his son) in mid-December. In their meeting, she confirmed what Harry had learned at the Ministry.
She pointed out that the laws of magical Britain were indeed very patriarchal, and as such, although Harry was the head of two Ancient and Noble Houses, a woman could only be the 'Lady' of one house; her children could not inherit from the other house unless the 'Lady' of that house had no children, and the children of the first house were designated as heirs of the second. As the sole heir to both houses, Harry was expected and legally obliged to have two wives, to 'replenish the bloodlines' of both houses. Also, as the last remaining heir of both houses, Harry was also expected, although not legally obliged, to have concubines as well to increase the numbers.
Lady Longbottom pointed out that in previous times, among the highborn families, it was very common for no marriage to occur unless the young woman (often barely more than a girl) was pregnant, as the role of a marriage in that society was to produce heirs, and the wife had to prove to both families that she was capable of this essential function. Love had nothing to do with it, as the women of the house were considered all but property of the Head of the House.
If the 'Lady' of either house did not produce offspring, and no heir was specifically designated, that House would cease to exist, and a minor House would be elevated to the 'Ancient and Noble' rank. Harry asked where the Weasley family stood in the rankings. Lady Longbottom remarked that, although several Ancient Houses had been disqualified because of their activities in the last war, the Weasleys were sufficiently far down that they would not be elevated unless at least seven more Noble Houses failed. She said, "I see where you are going with this. Unfortunately, leaving one House unsupplied with offspring would not bring the Weasley family to the highest rank. The next of the list is the Goyles, which I don't think you would want to promote, although how they managed to remain on the list at all remains a mystery to me."
Harry then asked about her feelings about his own behaviour. He had killed in battle, and he had slept with a woman (whose identity was carefully left unspecified) out of wedlock. Lady Longbottom looked him in the eye, and she asked, "Was there any coercion in this bedding?" Harry responded "No, not at all." The elder lady asked, "Was she tricked into bed with promises you had no intension of keeping?" Harry said "No." She asked, "Were you or she unprotected?" Again Harry said no, having seen Hermione perform the 'Contracepta' charm before the action proceeded. Lady Longbottom said, "This is the critical one. Were you prepared to marry her, or at least support and acknowledge any bushy-haired or red-headed offspring that might occur in spite of the protection?" Harry said, "Yes, definitely yes" realizing from the wording of this enquiry that Lady Longbottom was quite aware of who had most likely been his partner.
Lady Longbottom thought for a moment, and smiled. She said "I remember the passions of youth, albeit from a bit of a distance now. I know of your actions in the last few years from my grandson. He speaks well of you, and he has become a young man that I am very proud of. The fact that you are concerned about your actions speaks well of you. You may have been imprudent, but your intentions seem honourable. Given that you are expected, under wizarding law, to have two wives and as many concubines as you wish or can manage, I would expect that some exploration of that sort would not be unexpected, and given your age, I am honestly surprised it has not happened before. The fact that you are fully prepared to accept the consequences of your actions, both for the mother and the child, is honourable."
"Harry, as long as you continue to behave responsibly, I do not see a problem. However, these are matters which require judgement as well as passion. Too many of our people have been ruled by passions, and it had led us near to destruction. Be careful."
She continued, "Harry, the laws of our society are hopelessly patriarchal and archaic. I am from a high-born family, and was 'the Lady Longbottom' for only fifteen years until my husband died and my son inherited the title. I have been a widow most of my life. I have not changed, yet the authority for this House was solely held by the males, first my husband, then my son, and now my grandson. I do not begrudge him his position, but it seems bloody unfair that the senior member of the family had no legal authority just because she is a woman. Now, I realise that Neville recognises my unofficial authority (and he'd better not forget it), but officially, I have none. Harry, I understand that you, and your friends including my Neville, plan to make changes to our world, and to eliminate much of the bigotry and the unfairness. I ask that you remember Abigail Adams' request."
Harry did not recognise the reference, and asked for a clarification. Augusta smiled and said "When John Adams was helping organise the separation of the United States from England and draft the laws affecting who would have rights in the new country, his wife Abigail sent him a letter asking him 'Do not forget the ladies'."
Harry thanked her for her advice, and returned to the castle.
His appointment with Minerva McGonagall was set for December 27th, after Christmas. He had requested this timing so that they could meet after the end of classes and mid-term exams had been completed, so that she was inconvenienced as little as possible. This was also the day when many of the personal friends arriving for a bit of a winter holiday and for the ceilidh, and Harry felt his absence for the day would let them settle in more easily.
When they met, Professor McGonagall thanked Harry for his consideration of her workload as head of the school. She remarked that it was good to see Harry in good spirits given the trials of the last seven years, and his living conditions before that.
Harry was surprised that the Professor was wearing a simple blouse and skirt, and that her waist-length auburn hair was tied back in braid, rather than her usual severe bun.
Harry remarked that he had not known she was married. She said "Well, it was irrelevant to our relationship as teacher and student. You did not need to know details of my personal life." She snickered and with a twinkle in her eyes added, "Unless you were going to make a pass at me. I understand that you are in need of a couple of wives."
Harry choked on his tea. "Professor, I would never..."
The professor laughed easily (Harry realized this was the first time in more than seven years he had heard her laugh). "Oh Harry, you are so easy to tease. And now that you are no longer a student, and you are the Head of two Houses, please call me Minerva. You would be surprised how many propositions I get. Mostly, it is third-year young men and women who have just become sexually, shall we say, functional – they think they are now God's gift to women, and that all my stern demeanour is because I am sexually frustrated and that they are the 'answer' to my 'problem'. Self-important little snotbags. A surprising number are from upper year girls, who think I must be lonely and offer to provide me with 'company' – the sympathy is nice, but..."
Harry choked again "Girls?"
"Harry, you must be one of the most innocent students we have ever had! I guess it's the effects of growing up under the Dursleys. Yes, girls. You have to remember that this place holds several hundred homesick young people all going through puberty. What starts off as people sharing beds to have someone to hold them to ward off the loneliness, develops into sexual exploration. In some cases, it has led to lifelong loving relationships. Because they are generally more socially developed, this happens more with the girls than the boys, but both occur."
"My job, Harry, is basically to ride herd on about three to four hundred immature, sexually curious, horny, magically powerful teenagers, while trying to teach them enough magical control to not kill themselves and others, and be ready to face the outside world. It's not easy, and maintaining a strict decorum and demeanour helps keep them in line."
"Harry, it is such a pleasure to be able to talk with one of my former students without having to put on my 'Stern Professor McGonagall' face. It's so nice to be able to relax and just talk. I am also very honoured that you came to me for advice. How can I help?"
Harry paused as he tried to put his questions into words. "Professor,..."
The teacher stopped him. "Please Harry, Minerva."
Harry smiled. "Thank you for your confidence in me, Minerva. I'm lost."
Minerva looked puzzled. "How do you mean, 'lost'?"
Harry continued "For the first years of my life, I was told I was a freak and that nobody would want anything to do with me. Then I came to Hogwarts."
"At least once a year, someone, usually Voldemort, tried to kill me, and several others, usually named Malfoy, tried to maim me. I was under a death sentence all my life, according to the prophesy. My place in the world was either to die or to kill Lord Voldemort. Well, I killed him. Now what do I do? I have no purpose in life, as far as I can see."
"Because people I loved died, I have all sorts of money and property, and it's been fun. But Ron was right, I can't let my money and holdings own me! I have to do something worthwhile, and I don't know what it is. I don't really know who I am. As you say, according to wizarding law, I am on the lookout for two wives, and maybe a bunch of other baby factories, but how can I pledge my life to one woman, or two, or more, when I don't really know who or what I am?"
The professor tapped her fingertips to her lips as she thought. "Harry, as you may know, as Headmistress, I have certain sources and means of gathering information. I have heard that you have accepted the Chiefship of the Clan Black (by the way, thank you for the invitation). You have publically stated that you see it as your responsibility to protect the members of your clan. I believe your friend, Ms Granger, calls it your 'Harry-saving-people thing'." Harry chuckled at the professor's use of the same phrase Hermione did use.
The teacher continued, "Harry, throughout the whole time it has been my privilege to know you, you have been protecting your friends. You have been protecting even people you didn't like. Whether you do it consciously, or it is just part of who you are, it is something you do. There is no reason to stop now."
"Part of the profession of teaching is recognising a pupil's strengths and developing them if they are good, or trying to modify or redirect them if they are harmful. You have this tendency to help others. Through your inheritances, you have the resources to do a lot of good. I am not suggesting that you just give all your money away, as it is often more effective to use concentrated resources to address a problem, rather than spreading out the resource to the point where it cannot do anything large. That, in my eyes, is the only rationale for having governments. In muggle physics, they refer to it as entropy – when the system gets too spread out, you can't get anything useful out of it. Of course there is also the saying that money is like manure – if you spread it around sufficiently, it can do a lot of good, but if you leave it in a big pile, it stinks."
Harry, I don't know if you would want to become an Auror, although I think you would be good at it. You are a fierce warrior, and no one has taken out as many dark wizards and witches as you have. However, I don't think that you have the strategic or tactical turn of mind that your friend Mr Weasley has. Now, he would make a good Auror, or if he went into the military as a strategic planner, the country would be well served."
"I don't know if you are familiar with the special-missions squad of the Aurors, called 'The Hit Wizards' - nothing strategic or investigative, just going in and do the doing. If you went into law enforcement, that would be a place where your talents would be very useful. In muggle law enforcement, they have similar services, if you have grown tired of the magical society, and the way the Ministry, the Daily Prophet, and most of your classmates have treated you, I would not be surprised if you are even more fed up with the lies and hypocrisy as I am, and would be tempted to chuck it all! I have often thought of telling the Board of Directors of this place to take this job and, ah.., give it to someone else."
Harry and Minerva laughed at her delicacy.
"Harry, I may not be the best one for my job, but it is one where I can put my talents and experience to use in ways I think benefit our society and world. I don't know if you can ask for more than that. Perfect, no, but there are satisfactions to it, and get that smirk off your face, the propositions don't count!"
"Harry, you and your friends have talents that our society and our world need desperately. With her 'Freedom for the Elves' movement, your friend Hermione has shown a good heart and a distaste for the unfairness in the world. Your friends, the Weasleys, have been staunch defenders of the Light side for longer than you have been alive, my young man. I hear that young 'Lord Longbottom' (I still find that such a strange way of thinking of that timid little boy who stood up to you in your first year) has married, and intends to reform the morals of the Great Houses. These people need your help and support. How you give it is up to you, but I think you will find it fulfilling to do so."
"As to your romantic problems, I suggest that you do not rush into anything. As you say, you don't even know who you are yet. We magical folk tend to have longer lives that our non-magical neighbours, although not as long (usually) as the elves. As you have seen, to your distress and unwarranted guilt, the expectation of a long life is not a guarantee. However, barring any more unforeseen dark wizard uprisings, I would expect you to live well into your mid-180's. There is no need to rush (in spite of what Molly Weasley might prefer). Many magical folk do marry young and have their children early, so that they can focus their lives on their later careers. Some, like Molly Weasley, see their career as being mothers, and more power to them. But not all."
"I would recommend that you see more of the world and its wonders. That may include love, or it may not. Find yourself first, or find someone who can share the discovery. Don't settle on what is convenient or what someone is pushing you to do. As our late headmaster said, try to do what is right, not what is easy. Too often, I have seen former students who fell in love with the wrong person. With our patriarchal laws, a young witch married to the wrong wizard (or even to a muggle) has a hard time getting divorce with any sort of dignity left to her. A wizard who divorces his wife is seen as a complete failure in our society, if not a crude joke, and I have seen careers ruined by the man trying to get out of a disastrous marriage to the wrong witch. If you are giving up too much, or the witch expects you to be the 'Boy-Who-Lived', the hero on a white dragon, walk away, or if she has a fierce mother, run."
Harry thanked her for her advice, and said he looked forward to seeing her at the ceilidh. Minerva asked Harry to have the organisers forward her a list of the dances, so she could brush up on them as she hadn't done any Country Dancing for a decade. She said "Sean and I met dancing, but my workload here at Hogwarts kept interfering with dance nights." Harry asked why they had not set up a dancing club at Hogwarts, being in the Highlands. The Scottish witch laughed. "Unfortunately, Harry, only a rare number of wizards have any sense of rhythm or tune. You have seen how few students Professor Flitwick has in the school choir, and even there, he has to be lenient with the ability requirements."
The Headmistress thanked Harry for coming, and said she really looked forward to the party.
Molly Weasley looked at her daughter and asked, "Who do we have to talk to, to borrow some brooms?" Ginny looked at her mother, puzzled "Brooms?" Molly replied, "Young lady, you forget I was the first string chaser in my fifth year at Hogwarts. I know I haven't ridden much in the last few years, but you and Ron spoke highly of flying around the mountain peaks here. I want to see if the old girl still has it in her."
Ginny spoke to the elf in charge of castle equipment, and borrowed a couple brooms, and she and her mother were soon flying loops and swirls. After an hour or two, Molly had them land near the hot springs lake that Hamish had mentioned. Looking around to check that there was no one else around, Molly stripped down to her skin and ran into the water, in spite of it being late December. Although surprised, Ginny quickly joined her.
As they relaxed in the hot water, Molly sighed, "Ah, the old gal's still got it. It's rusty, but it's still there." Ginny asked, "Why didn't you go flying at home?" Molly shook her head, "Gin my love, we didn't have much money for brooms, particularly the way your brothers eat. I would go out flying when you lot were in school, and I could get a broom for myself. It's not as much fun flying alone, especially when you were used to the speed and excitement of a Quidditch match with fourteen top-notch flyers sky-dancing in and out."
Ginny asked, "Didn't Dad go flying with you?" Molly chortled, "I have never seen a man so airsick as your dad. I love him dearly, but he is no flyer. He tried for a couple years, to keep me company before your brother Bill was born, but it got so he would turn pale at the sight of a broom. Oh Gin, it's good to go flying with someone who knows how."
Molly sighed again, "Ginny, I think it's time we had a woman-to-woman mother-daughter talk."
Ginny looked around the little lake, and said "Well, being what we are, and who we are, this seems like a good time and place for it."
Molly laughed, and gave a bit of a sob too. "Your sense of humour reminds me so much of Fred. I miss him so much." Ginny put her hand on her mother's bare shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "Me too, Mum."
Molly became serious, and said, "Ginny, you know I want you to be happy in your life. I mean happy with your job, happy with your husband, happy with your own body. I know I have been pushing you at Harry, because I thought that you should have a hero, because you are my daughter. But from what you told me last month, he doesn't want to be a hero, and he hates it when people call him that. But whether he likes it or not, he is a hero."
"For years, people were calling him 'The Boy Who Lived'. Yes, he lived. That was what he was, but as he became part of our family and we got to know him, it became clear to me that that was not who he was. I don't think he knows who he is yet. He has been so
focussed on Voldemort for so long, that now that it's gone, he doesn't know which way to turn – it's like someone who has a chronic disease, and has come to terms with dying, and then they find a cure and they get better. They have no plans, because there was no point before, and now they don't know what to do."
"Ginny, you can help him find his way, or you can get in his way. You are a fierce fighter in your own right, but he may still see you as Ron's little sister; I think he knows you as more than that, but it can still get in the way."
"You know our Ron gets upset when you two are together, partly because he is confused. He wants to protect his little sister from guys preying on her, but this is his best friend and he wants the best for Harry, and he wants the best for you. Ron has to grow up. Ron has to let go of you too, and let you grow up. He's Harry's best friend (yes Ginny, okay, best male friend) and hopefully always will be."
"But Hermione is also a best friend. They have been together for seven years, they have hidden out in the forest together, they have starved together, and they have fought for their lives together. They share something you can never have, and if you try to break them apart, it will hurt them, and probably it will hurt you too because Harry will resent you for it."
"I don't know if they ever slept together (okay, from your expression, I gather they have), and I don't know if you and Harry were ever... (okay, that boat has sailed too). Gin, I've seen girls who sleep with a boy, and convince themselves that this means the boy is committed to them forever. This can be a very bad mistake. Sometimes it works, but usually not. Sometimes, the girl will get pregnant intentionally, so that the guy will marry her. We magicals tend to live a long time, and a hundred and fifty years of resenting the person you are with because you or he feels trapped is a terrible way to live your life."
"Ginny, I had hoped you would wait, but I know that the urges are strong. I also didn't want you to get hurt – I know girls who never got over the pain on their wedding night. Why some people think that two virgins can get it perfect the first time has always baffled me. That's why I showed you those exercises with the cucumber and that buzzy thing that your Dad brought home from the muggle store. I wanted you to be ready, although I didn't want you to be ready so soon."
Ginny said, "But Mum, you had Dad in your bed by the time you were sixteen, a full year younger than I am now."
Molly blushed and stammered, "But we were deeply in love, and there was the war and we didn't think we would survive long enough to wait, and ..., and you're not buying any of this, are you?"
Ginny laughed and gave her mother a huge hug, laughing "No, I'm not. But I love it that you're trying."
Ginny looked at her mother. "Mum, I know Harry is changing. I told you that back in summer. But I've had some time to think and I think I have figured out a few things. First, I am changing, too. Since Fred died, I find I am looking at things on a longer term, and on a shorter term. When I went to bed with Harry, I let him know that it might be a one-time only because we seemed to be growing apart, but I wanted him to know how much he meant to me. And to us all. (By the way, Mum, that ribbed thing you gave me to use really felt good.) I told him that I wanted him to be part of my life, but I wasn't sure what part yet. You know I got that offer from the Holyhead Harpies to try out after graduation – that would be a big commitment, and I would be away a lot. He also is trying to figure out what kind of a life he wants, now that he actually believes he is going to have one. I love Harry, but I just don't know any more in what way I love him – as a sister, as a lover, as a wife, as a friend 'with benefits' – I don't know. We decided we would take things as they come, and make sure we didn't hurt each other if we could help it."
"Mum, I will make sure that there are no little red-headed Potterlings until we are ready for them, if ever. Don't worry about that. As to the rest, I guess we work it out day by day."
That night, Elly and Hermione Granger walked along the battlements of the castle after exploring the castle. They were wrapped up against the sharp wind coming from the mountains, but with a crisp clear sky.
Elly remarked "You know, dear, I have always loved looking up at the stars. You know my Dad, your Grandpa, named me for the angel who created and lit up the stars, in the Tolkien books. He was an astrophysicist, and studied how stars worked – it was a passion with him. When I was very little, and then when my adult teeth were coming in, I couldn't manage 'Elbereth', (it came out 'Ebuwef') and it was a bit of a mouthful when Mum was calling me to dinner, so I became just 'Elly'."
"When we were down in Australia, your Dad and I would go out of town into the 'bush', as they call it, away from the City lights, and just look at the southern sky. That's why we took you and Harry out there – it is just so beautiful, and there are so many stars that we just don't get to see up here in the north. And it's so cold up here on these battlements in this bloody wind! Do you think we can go in and find some hot chocolate?"
Hermione remarked "Actually, the castle has an observing dome that's out of the wind, and I can ask Marsha for some chocolate, or if you would like, something else."
Elly said, "That sounds really good." Hermione addressed the air "Marsha?" With a slight 'pop', the elf appeared. "What would Misses be liking?" Hermione said "Thank you Marsha. This is my mother, Elly." Elly and Marsha shook hands and greeted each other. Hermione continued, "We would like some hot chocolate, and we will be in the astronomy dome. And can I please have a little Crème de Menthe in mine?"
Marsha nodded and smiled "Yes, Miss Hermi. I bring choclit to star dome, and put sweet green stuff in yours."
As they moved to the astronomy viewing dome, Elly remarked "You know, I could really get used to this." When they arrived at the viewing area, Marsha had a large pitcher of hot chocolate on a warming element, and a bottle of Crème de Menthe sitting beside it. She said "Miss Hermi not say how much green in brown stuff, so I brought the bottle so she can put lots or little. This okay? Also, I bring enough for two or three mugs of choclit for both." Hermione thanked her and said that was a very good idea.
They got mugs of hot chocolate, and then went outside, standing in the wind-shadow on a tower, looking at Orion, with Sirius rising. Hermione got tears in her eyes, and said "You know, Mum, that bright star there, Sirius – Harry's godfather was named Sirius. He's the one that Harry inherited this place from. A strange man, and one of Harry's dad's best friends, but I think he was as close to a father as Harry ever knew. Harry has had only four father figures in his life, and three of them are dead, two because of this damned war, and his real dad because of the last one. I love this place because it is special and it's Harry's, and I hate this place because of how it came to him. He feels guilty that he gets to enjoy a place that cost him so much."
"Well", said Elly, "You can always come and stay with us down under."
"What!?, You're kidding."
Elly said, "Hermione, your dad and I have talked it over. We love England in the summer, and that's when we can do the most good as dental surgeons, because that's when the sports injuries are the highest. But having gotten used to a warm climate, we are really finding this winter miserable. So we got in touch with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia, and arranged to do a four month contract from January to April every year, based out of our house in Cairns for some of the time and out of Alice Springs for some. We would leave after Christmas – we wouldn't leave you alone at Christmas, and then we will head down there for the winter, their summer. A lot of the 'outback' places really need some dentists to come in occasionally, but can't afford a permanent clinic. We can do a lot of good there. And we get to look at the southern sky."
Hermione started crying "But I'll not see you for months at a time."
Elly hugged her daughter and said kindly, "Hermione, it's time to grow up, little bird, and leave the nest. You have been through a war as one of the leaders of the 'good guys'. You have people who love you here. You didn't see us for about a year and a half, and you survived it."
Hermione pulled her mother into a hug as she wept on her shoulder. "And I hated every minute. I hated what I did to you. I hated what I had to do to you. I hated Voldemort for making it that I had to do that to you. And now you're leaving because you don't want me around you."
Elly grabbed Hermione by the shoulders. "Young lady, you just stop that! You did what you had to do to keep us safe, to keep us from being killed! I spoke to your friend Neville – the bunch you were fighting tortured his parents to insanity and they are in hospital existing in a living death! Hermione, you were brought up in the Church – I can't think of a truer description of Hell than having your soul imprisoned like that. If that ever happens to us, I want you, no, I order you, to find us in whatever hospital we are locked up in and kill us. Use that 'Avast ye cadaver' thing, or a gun or drugs, your choice, but do it! For our sakes, please."
"We will be back every year for the summer, and we can spend all the time with you that you can spare. Hermione, you are moving on, too. You're finishing school, you will be going to University, you will have your career and your family (I hope). You are a grown-up extremely capable young woman, with so much ahead of you. You weren't going to spend every waking moment with your parents anyway, and if you did, you would be a fool. I prefer to believe that I did not raise a fool. And you're a fool if you don't jump Harry's bones!" Hermione blushed brightly, and Elly realized that the jumping had been accomplished. She grinned widely at her daughter, "Well, it's about bloody well time you got your act together on that! I didn't knock the pins out from underneath your father until we were twenty-one; of course, we didn't even meet until we were nineteen, so I guess that had something to do with it."
"Anyway," Elly smiled, "From what I hear of your connections and your 'mystical' technology, you could pop down for a cup of coffee anytime you pleased with almost no effort, and certainly not with the 38 hour plane ride we are looking forward to. By the way, do you think you could arrange for us to get one of those 'portkey' things? That would be very useful."
Hermione hugged her mother all the tighter, and said she would see what she could arrange. Elly then asked "Do you think that hot tub will be open this late? I would like to get into some hot water and soak for a bit. This Scottish weather is terrible cold, and this is supposedly a nice night."
They descended into the castle's basement to the pool. Elly asked, "Can you lock the door or something? I don't feel like wearing a suit tonight." Hermione cast the privacy spells so they would not be disturbed, and they both got into the hot tub. Elly sighed "Lord, this feels good after that cold wind. You know, this is kind of how I met your father." At Hermione's raised eyebrow, Elly continued, "There was a pool in the dorm at college that was open all hours. Sometimes, after studying late, I would go for a swim to unwind. After about 1 in the morning, there was never anyone else there, and so after a bit, I just didn't bother with my suit. One night about 2:30, I went down to the pool, stripped and jumped in, before realizing that I was not alone. Your dad was in the same state I was, and after multiple blushes and apologies, we got talking and you know the rest."
She continued, "You know, my dad had been in the Second World War as a medic, and he said there was nothing that made young people more sexually active than getting shot at and living through it. Something about wanting to celebrate life and that they survived to be part of it. I suspect that you will see this happening with a lot of your friends, and maybe you feel this too. However, be careful. When I was growing up in the sixties, there was a song "All You Need is Love" and the young people were talking about 'free love'. Hermione, love may be one of the best things in life, but it is never free. I saw so many girls who paid far too high a price for the feeling that someone loved them. Please make sure that you don't pay for the intensity of your hormones with lifetime commitments of any kind that you wouldn't want."
"Love, I want you to go to university and go as far as you want. I would be ecstatic if you got your doctorate, or went into some profession – you've got the brains and the willpower for it, and I would hate for you to waste them. Your dad and I can help out with tuition, and I suspect you would have no trouble at all getting scholarships." Hermione pointed out that she was awarded the Order of Merlin first class, with a financial award of a half-million galleons, which was more that she could likely spend in three lifetimes, so the funding would not be an issue. Elly said "I'm glad to hear that, but I often thought that having to work for the money to go to school seems to make people value their education more, because they were directly aware of what they were giving up to go to school."
Elly bit her lip, as if her next statement was going to be difficult. She looked Hermione in the eyes, and said "You are smart and hardworking, Hermione. Don't settle for a boy who can't respect that. Your friend Harry values your intelligence, as he well should. You friend Ron, well let's just say that in the past he's been dumber than a bag of rocks. When and if he grows up, he might be worth keeping around, but I wouldn't count on it. However, since his brother died, I see him changing. Give him time. Give yourself time."
Elly then stood up on the steps of the hot tub. She smiled a little coy/sexy/prankish smile, that Hermione associated with Ginny about to pull a stunt or Luna about to let go with one of her more off-the-wall comments (Hermione knew Luna did this intentionally to keep people off balance, and maintain her reputation as being strange – she said annoying people stayed away from her when she did this). Elly dramatically put her hands on her naked hips, posing and wiggled her hips and shoulders slightly, and asked "Well, what do you think Harry would say to this package?"
Hermione laughed and asked "What are you talking about, Mum?"
Elly smirked. "You told me Harry needs at least two wives, and probably a number of concubines."
Hermione laughed nervously as the horror of several implications occurred to her. "Mum, is there anything wrong with Dad? Are you and Dad having problems?"
Elly smiled and said "No my dear, there's nothing wrong. God forbid anything happening to your dad, but if it did, I might just apply for the job. And after all, a woman's genetic imperative is to secure the best possible genes for her offspring. I got your dad, and I am very happy with my choice. For one thing, I had you. But if anything happens to your father, Harry is certainly prime goods, although his friend Neville looks pretty good too. A girl can fantasize, can't she? "
Hermione sat up, so that the warm water came only up to her waist. She pretended to hold up a clipboard in front of her bare chest, and motioned as if holding a quill or pen to the notepad. In an officious voice (which was hard to pull off when sitting naked in a hot tub laughing) she haughtily demanded "Well, Ms. Granger, may we ask exactly what you see as your qualifications for this position?"
Elly guffawed at the term 'position'. "I'm a little plain of face, I know, but I'm in good shape and good health. Rather nice breasts, I am told, but I deem the source of that opinion to be quite biased, so it can be discounted. An experienced cuddler. Frisky, on occasion. I have proven I can bear children, (which you cannot say, my girl, and if you can, don't! There are some things no mother wants to hear from her unmarried daughter.) My plumbing indicates that my eggs haven't hit their 'best before' date yet. I am an educated woman, a practicing professional who has run a business successfully, and I have lived in Australia and can understand the strange language of that land; I could be useful managing the Lord Black's southern estates. In addition, I have a brilliant daughter who might come in as part of a package deal. What do you think? Would Harry go for it?"
Hermione splashed water at her mother, and a brief water fight ensued amid the laughter.