At dinner, the following day, an owl swooped down on Elizabeth, it was heavily laden with a large scroll.

"Ah, good!" she smiled as she detached the study and covering letter.

Dear Miss Havisham,

I was greatly honoured to receive your letter. I have enclosed the desired document, but I feel obliged to warn you that it is a very tedious read. Also, it is not to be taken as fact, it is purely a theory based on insufficient data, as I told the Minister when he asked my opinion.
If you require any further assistance, do not hesitate to write, I am at your disposal.

Yours sincerely,
G. Smethwyk
Head of Dai Llewellyn Ward

'Ah, so Fudge asked his opinion, too.

'It might be worth taking him on as one of my associates.
'Let's wait to see how useful he proves.
'True,' she thought and then returned her attention to the conversation that was happening around her.

"So, yeah, she had us up all night! Couldn't you 'ave...? Oh, I don't know! Dumped her differently? Just so she had allowed us some sleep. I'm shattered!" complained Serena.

"My deepest apologies, Miss Sevurn. If I had known it would cause you such discomfort–"

"You would've done it anyway," Serena cut him off and he nodded.

"But I would have apologised beforehand. If there is anything I can do to make it up to you, please let me know."

"We-eell..." she said with a grin. "There is always the Halloween Masque Ball." Elizabeth groaned and mimed banging her head on the table.

"Don't remind me, I have yet to start on the decorations and all. Only the music and refreshments have been dealt with so far. I think, I need to kidnap Hermione."

"We tried that, Potter rescued her from under the noses of six senior Death Eaters. Why would he want a filthy mudblood like that!" spat Crabbe, who had gained prejudice but neither brains nor tact in the last year. A quick flick of Elizabeth's wand later, he was hurtling through the air, over the students' heads, before crashing in to the far wall.

"Miss Havisham!" yelled Minerva in a shocked voice.

"I was merely disciplining him, headmistress."

"And what had he done?" enquired Sinistra.

"He used a derogatory term in relation to our esteemed head girl."

"Mister Crabbe, detention," snapped Severus, shortly. The whole staff table and most of the students looked at him astounded. Elizabeth, however, just smiled gratefully at him and nodded in acknowledgement.

"Mister Reynolds, Miss Washbourne, help Mister Crabbe to the hospital wing," Minerva instructed.

"Anyway," Elizabeth said, quickly pulling a veil over what had just happened and standing. "I am going to go talk to Hermione. I'm going to be a while, don't wait for me." She grabbed her bag and sauntered over to the Gryffindor table, where Hermione was sat with the other two members of the Golden Trio, their girlfriends and Neville. "Hey, Hermione. I don't know 'bout you, but I'm starting to panic about the arrangements for the Halloween Masque."

"Oh my!" gasped the petite lioness. "I've been so busy, I had completely forgotten that we needed to do that." She turned to her friends. "We're gonna be a while, I'll see you later." Hermione picked up her bag, turned back to the Slytherin queen and followed her out. "Where are we headed?"

"I seconded a spare office. McGonagall said we would be fine to leave our papers spread out."

It took them seven minutes to reach their office, which was three doors down from the Hospital Wing. As they passed Madame Pomfrey's domain, they heard Crabbe's wailing and then his two escorts came out.

"Nice one!" grinned Malcolm.

"Those blistering sores look really painful," added Zoe, gleefully. Elizabeth just grinned and the pair headed off to Gryffindor tower.
Once Elizabeth had given the password, "double, double, toil and trouble", and they had entered the room, Hermione turned on her slippery friend with her hands on her hips, as though she was about to lecture her.

"So, what have you done already?" The pair burst out laughing and sat themselves comfortably in the chairs behind their respective desks.

"Well, I've arranged for both the Weird Sisters and the Canterbury Strings to play. I thought, we could have the string quartet on while people are dining and then have the band for the dancing."

"Yeah, that sounds good, but I think we're also gonna want one or two formal dances. Like, maybe, we have the quartet start us off with a waltz for you, me, McGonagall and the heads of house plus our partners. Of course, that would mean persuading Professor Snape to both attend and dance," she mused.

"Oh, I think I can guarantee he'll be there and dancing." Hermione frowned at her. "Alright, I'll tell you, but don't you dare repeat this. When we were both double agents, we were lovers." The Gryffindor's eyes popped from her skull and her mouth dropped open, but then she frowned at Elizabeth. "Yes, I know, it's inconceivable that Severus could feel that way about anyone–"

"Not inconceivable, just surprising. Besides, I thought you were in that sort of a relationship with Voldemort?"

"I was, as well. But with Marvolo, mostly it was because of needing that sort of power over him for the Order's sake. Besides, I got tired of mothering him. I know, it's shocking, but he 'who wanted to dominate the world' wanted me to take the lead in the bedroom.
"One night Severus and I were alone, this was when I was staying at his place, and I just broke down. He just held me and, once I'd finished crying and pouring out my soul, I kissed him, he kissed me back and somehow we woke the next morning in his bed. I was so embarrassed, I felt like I'd used him, because I was, of course, going to go back to Marvolo. But he just pulled me back to him and took me. I know, it sounds vulgar, but it was so liberating.
"However, him with his 'holier than holy' attitude decided that we shouldn't have that sort of a relationship with me back as his student. So, he ended it before school started and it's been torture. But, you know yesterday when I was at the top table for breakfast?" - Hermione nodded - "Well, that was because Minerva found me crying outside Severus' door and insisted I joined her for breakfast. He and I made up and I've moved into the spare bedroom in his quarters. We're doing things properly this time," Elizabeth finished with a soft smile, realising that she had lied to Severus last night; Lucius was not the only one she trusted, she trusted Hermione too.

"You are so lucky!" sighed the Head Girl. "I just wish he would notice me."

"You mean, you haven't seen him staring at you wistfully?"

"What?!"

"He does. At some point during every meal or lesson, I've caught him gazing at you. Then again, it isn't explicit. I only noticed because I'm used to seeing him looking at you like that from my time at Grimmauld Place." Hermione's jaw dropped, again, and then, she slowly raised herself from her chair.

"Would you excuse me? I've got a rather pressing..." She walked away, still dazed.

"Of course! Good luck!" Elizabeth called after her friend.

'This still leaves you with the problem of organising the masque.
'That can wait.
'Besides, I still need to read that study.
'True.' So, she pulled the heavy scroll from her bag and rolled it out on her desk.

Excerpt

In this study, we aim to examine the claim that continued
inter-breeding of the remaining pure-blooded families means
an increase in the numbers of squibs. To form a decisive
conclusion on this subject, we will analyse the magical
abilities of all children born to pure-blooded parents
in the last five years.

To begin, we must explain a few terms. Firstly, a pure-blooded
individual is considered, by the authors of this study, as one
whose ancestors all had magical abilities for the three
generations proceeding the individual's birth. Secondly, a squib
is defined as a person without magical abilities born to parents
with magical abilities.

In 1992, it was found that, of the fifty babies born to pure-
blooded parents, none of them showed a lack of magic. However,
when the forty-eight remaining children were tested at the age
of three, it was found that two of that number were unable to
perform any magic.

Excerpt

The study continued in this vein for quite a few pages, concluding with how this proved that the gene pool needed to be increased if the magic gene were to be passed on. Elizabeth decided that she did not want to be trawling through this multiple times and so listed the useful data.

1992 – 50 born, 0 squibs at birth, 48 survived to three, 2 squibs at three
1993 – 65 born, 3 squibs at birth, 57 survived to three, 0 squibs at three
1994 – 42 born, 2 squibs at birth, 42 survived to three, 2 squibs at three
1995 – 56 born, 5 squibs at birth, 48 survived to three, 6 squibs at three
1996 – 39 born, 4 squibs at birth, 36 survived to three, 8 squibs at three

It did look damning, but Smethwyk was right, there was not enough data. They would need to look further back and at the rate of squibs born from different couplings of muggle/magic and the rate among the children of muggleborns who had married each other. In fact, from the data before her, Elizabeth could not help but wonder if Fudge had been planning this for a while and had specially commissioned this study. She pulled a fresh sheet of parchment towards her and wrote:

Dear Healer Smethwyk,

Thank you for responding so promptly and for your generous offer of assistance. I am writing to you to avail myself of that offer. I have read the report and found it very intriguing. However, I was wondering when the authors began researching it. I only ask because it seems somewhat rushed.

Yours sincerely,
Elizabeth Havisham

She sealed it and was about to take it to the owlery when the door opened.

"I have just seen the loveliest sight of my life, apart from your face," said Severus as he came over to where she was sitting.

"Oh? What was that?"

"The wonderful Miss Granger and our very own Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. It reminded me so very much of the way we are flouting teacher-student protocol." He raised his eyebrows at her.

"I may have mentioned something about him gazing devotedly at her here and at headquarters," she said, innocently, avoiding her love's eye.

"I'm glad. Lupin looked the happiest I've seen him," he laughed, conjuring a chair beside hers. "So, what are you doing?"

"I've been reading this," she said, handing him the study. "And I've got a couple of letters to write."

"Don't you always!" he chuckled, but set about reading the report, once she stuck her tongue out at him.

To my darling Lucius,

When I wrote to you yesterday, I mentioned a study carried out by Clay and Pye and that I had requested a copy from Pye's boss, Smethwyk. Well, today, I received it. I am not so cruel as to expect you to read the whole thing and am including a summary of the data and my thoughts on the study.
I can't wait to see you next weekend. I presume you are comfortable with Severus coming as you haven't written back saying otherwise.

All my love,
Elizabeth

Elizabeth inserted the list of data with her suggestions for what more should have been included, sealed that letter, laid it by the first and pulled another sheet of parchment towards her, but was interrupted before she could start on the letter to the elder Nott.

"Uh, darling?" said Severus, frowning, from beside.

"Yes?"

"This is the document that the Minister is basing this legislation upon?"

"Yes."

"But this study is far from complete. It only looks at pureblood births and only for the last five years, that is insufficient."

"Precisely. I think Fudge commissioned it, so that he could bring in this legislation," she explained.

"Sounds plausible. In fact, that sounds very likely. Especially considering the departments these two work in."

"Why? Where does Augustus Clay work?"

"Ah," he said with an evil grin, he loved beating her at her own game.

"Stop gloating and just tell me," she said in affectionate irritation.

"Only if you come over here."

"If I must," she mock-groaned and slipped from her chair and onto his lap.

"Augustus Clay works in the memory restorative ward." She frowned and then a light bulb switched on over her head as her face cleared.

"So, they both worked with you after that bite you got from Nagini," she mused, frowning in concentration. "You do know I'm sorry about that, I did try to stop him, but he wasn't hearing anything but the call of the El–" He silenced her with a kiss and she dove into the mindless abyss, but they were interrupted by a tapping on the window. Reluctantly, she pushed herself off of him and went to the window, then she recognised the Scops Owl. She took the letter and offered the exhausted thing some owl treats, which it ate happily.

EG,

Mark Warner has died of that cough. I am sorry to have to give you such news. His wife and children will suffer greatly now that he is gone.

Your faithful servant,
Kiss

"Blast!" she muttered, bitterly, before scribbling a note on the back saying that her ex-MW should be assigned to the Prophet.

"Who's it from, darling?" Severus asked, coming over and putting his arms around her.

"Shaklebolt. You remember Alex Williams?" He nodded, so she continued. "Well, Fudge found him out and has gotten him dismissed. I've told Kingsley to have him hired at the seer." Severus nodded, before walking her back to her seat.

"Who are you writing to now?" he enquired as she set about the letter to Igelbert.

"Nott."

"Are," he teased and she scowled at him, so he sank down in his chair.