CHAPTER TEN: TWO MARRAIGES and A FUNERAL
ALL CHARECTERS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE AUTHORS.
Authors Note:
Even though Elphaba, Daphne and Harry are fourteen in this story, their bad experiences in life has forced them to grow up a lot quicker and seem more mature than their friends and fellow students, hence the fact Harry and Elphaba bring up the marriage contracts and all three are determined to go through with them.
Harry woke up early on Boxing Day in his bedroom with the curtains and window open out on the Caribbean Sea the sunlight showing signs of early morning. Harry smiled when he turned to the girl lying at his side. Daphne lay sleeping, looking peaceful and content in this crazy world, her wedding dress sat on its hanger on the wardrobe door looking just as pretty by its self as it did on her. Harrys mind thought back over the day previously and despite the sadness of Christmas Eve he began grinning...
FLASHBACK:
Christmas day dawned with a clear blue sky and bright sunlight flooded the large house Harry was one of the first people awake. Cedric and Jean-Paul Delacour sat with him in the kitchen/living room with a large breakfast bar across half the room. Sirius and Victor joined them not an hour or so later as the women of the house bar Daphne, Elphaba, Amelia and Minerva scurried in and out of the kitchen Amelia sat herself down opposite Harry going over the contracts in fine detail with Minerva beside her making sure neither party would be harmed with the arrangement. Harry didn't mind in his marriage contract to Daphne it stated that if he ever died without siring an heir with her she would be his heir and effectively become the head of house potter since she would be officially cast out of the Greengrass house the moment they married. There was no time limit on when the heirs should be provided by and Daphne was given the option of dictating how many heirs they would provide, since she would be the one carrying them. Elphabas and Sirius' heavily modified Marriage contract clearly impressed Amelia the most. It was clearly built to support and protect Elphaba more than Sirius, although Elphaba had a three year timeframe to provide two male heirs one for each house. Amelia huffed slightly at the option of lovers outside the marriage after five years and the escape clause that would kick in within ten years. But all in all she couldn't find anything dangerous. Amelia finally chirped her approval and walked off to get changed to be the vicar for the ceremonies. It was then Victor and Cedric asked if their mothers could join them on Christmas day. Sirius accepted within seconds to nervous to think of anything else.
As it neared Mid-Morning, Victor and Cedric went outside with Neville to set up the ceremony area as Harry and Sirius went to get dressed for their weddings. Reinette stood outside Daphnes door as they passed as Lady Augusta did for Elphaba.
"You can't see until later" Lady Augusta crooned earning a bow and a giggle
"Certainly Lady Augusta" Harry said with a smile "Wouldn't dream of it"
"Just passing through" Sirius continued and the two of them walked to their rooms, dressed quickly and went back downstairs.
"Guys this is perfect" Sirius said looking over the wedding ceremony area with a smile.
"Very nice" Harry added grinning like a maniac as he tried to quell the nervousness inside him "The girls will love it."
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It was now late evening with the party finally winding down and Harry still couldn't believe it. The marriage itself was a happy and wonderous blur. The moment the wedding march started playing the nervousness he felt intensified for a brief moment and fled the moment he saw Daphne dressed in a floaty dress of white cloth being walked down the sandy Isle on Nevilles arm towards him. He barely regestered Elphaba in a similar dress of light sky blue following not far behind her on Cedric's arm until the vows were said and done. Harry came off Cloud nine as Amelia pronounced the four of them man and wife. Everyone giggled as Elphaba Jumped on Sirius' back as he ran back down the isle. Harry and Daphne followed suit leading the giggling group back towards the house and food willingly prepared by the house elves. Harry noted as Sirius and Elphaba slipped off when everyone began saying goodnight. Harry led Daphne up to his...Their bedroom after wishing a very goodnight to everyone. The guests were happy for silencing spells on their doors for down the hall they didn't hear the sounds of pleasure coming from two different bedrooms.
END FLASHBACK.
Harry knew the modified contract and now wedding vows between Sirius and Elphaba benefitted Elphaba more than Sirius and any children they would have. He sighed in satisfaction as he was brought back to the present by Daphne waking up.
"Good Morning beautiful wife" Harry said shifting to his side as Daphne opened her blue-grey eyes
"Good morning handsome husband" Daphne replied sleepily, smiling as she stretched.
"How do you feel?" Harry asked smiling back
"Never better" Daphne replied shifting to sit up in bed
"Perfectly fine what do you want to do this morning Lady Potter?" Harry continued allowing Daphne to dictate how the day would go.
Daphne smiled leant forwards and kissed him before showing him exactly what she wanted to do.
It took another hour before they joined the people already downstairs. Neville sat at the coffee table with his grandmother and Luna going over the Gillyweed information and the two breeds of Gillyweed they had, separating them into the right quantities for both salt water and fresh water breeds. Gillyweed did exactly the same whatever water it was bred in they just did better with the right water. Susan sat out on the Patio alongside Amelia, Jean-Paul and Reinette Delacour alongside Marie and her father. Gabrielle was already playing on the beach with Fleur at her side...Harry was pretty sure they were magically building sandcastles, but he would check that out later. Minerva and Constance were sitting at the breakfast bar with Victor, and a woman Harry assumed was his mother and Cedric and his mother. Cedric called them over when he saw them.
"Harry, Daphne this is my mother Alison Diggory" Cedric said when they got to the breakfast bar. "Mum this is Harry and Daphne Potter"
"Good Morning Mrs Diggory It's nice to finally meet you" Harry said with a smile before kissing her hand and returning the hug he received a moment later.
"It's nice to meet you too Harry" she replied turning to hug Daphne "And you, Daphne"
"I am Victors Mother Sophia" Sophia said in Bulgarian accented English shaking hands with Harry and Daphne before Daphne accepted the cup of Pain potion and a cup of hazelnut infused Coffee from Minerva
"For last night" Minerva awncers her questioning look in a quiet tone before Daphne giggled and swallowed the potion and the cup of Coffee.
As breakfast was being served to Harry and Daphne, Elphaba slid into the room and ducked out of view of the stairs shaking with silent giggles as the group heard Sirius crash around upstairs and curse incoherently.
"Elphie what did you...?" Constance began asking as Sirius stumbled down the stairs dressed head to toe in various shades of pink as an ugly looking clown Ballerina. Harry took one look at his god father and fell over laughing alongside Daphne, Cedric and Victor. Lady Augusta, Neville and Luna were laughing from the sofa and Susan had fallen off her chair outside having caught a glimpse of Sirius through the window.
Elphaba burst out in full laughter attracting attention from Sirius before bolting outside. Sirius roared with shock then laughter when he caught glimpse of himself in a mirror before running after Elphaba. Five minuites later they returned to the kitchen damp, smelling of seawater and no longer looking weird.
"Now that was a good way to start the morning" Elphaba said a twinge of sadness behind her eyes.
"Definitely" Susan said coming inside for a second round of coffee. "It was unexpected at least"
"Dobby, Maeve" Harry called out as everyone settled back down and the elves popped into the room. "Any post and news for us my friends?"
"Yes master Harry" Dobby said as he handed over several letters to people of the group.
"We've been keeping an eye on the tricky bumblebee for you" Maeve continued ever so slightly nervously "and we found some things which are disturbing"
"What is it Maeve?" Elphaba asked kindly offering some toast and fruit to the elves
"Tricky Bumblebee is planning to Marry master Harry to the weasel girl" Maeve replied taking an apple to eat.
"And he is using the dungeon bat and the weasel howler to brew potions and try to drug you with them" Dobby continued munching on some toast
"He's also trying to drug Hermione Granger to be with Ron and Drug Elphaba and Daphne to be with some of the darker Slytherins" Maeve said being to tear up "He's planning to kill Sirius and my master by drugging them with poisons and leave an underage girl pregnant and in control of a dark parent...I'm positive he's going to kill harry the moment Ginny says she's pregnant"
Elphaba, Daphne and Harry shared a look that conveyed every fear they had. Albus Dumbledore was planning to drug them and Hermione to gain what he wanted.
"I've been either dumping the potions or switching several of them with our enemies food amongst the students and the teachers" Dobby began looking mischievous "I've also passed them off to our enemies parents as well, It doesn't harm anyone but it makes them confused for a few days before it clears their systems"
"Once Master Harry is 'in love' with weasel girl, Dumbledore wishes to push forwards the illegal marriage contract with the weasel girl through...I now know that Arthur Weasley signed the contract under Imperious which has been null and voided by the Goblins"
Everyone looked surprised at the Goblins and house elves Slytherin cunning and willingness to protect their master and Goblin friend.
"What do we have to do with the information we have?" Reinette asked aloud realising the question everyone had been thinking.
The teary Maeve held up two letters from Gringotts to Harry and Elphaba, Daphne gave her a hug a glass of water and a tissue to dry her tears as Harry opened the letter from Burchoke.
'Lord Harry,
I hope this letter finds you well and happily married to Daphne. I write this letter in hopes that Maeve and Dobby have told you what they told me of Dumbledore's plans with Molly Prewitt-Weasley and Severus Snape. I have a plan or two to solve this pesky problem you wish to discuss it since it has transpired these three people have been stealing from your trust vault past the Initial warnings and threats. We can book a meeting at your earliest convenience after the Will reading of Baron Ebenezer Hardbroom will be read on the 15th of January 1995 which you are required to attend alongside the new Baroness Hardbroom-Black.
I will see you then,
Burchoke. '
Harry looked up at Elphaba to see hardened sadness settle behind her eyes as she too looked up from her letter. Harry then sought out the adults who could help them Sirius, Amelia, Lady Augusta and Jean-Paul
"My friends we have the beginnings of a plan" He announced with astute firmness.
# # # # #
It was the morning of the 3rd of January 1995 and everyone was at the London House of the late Ebenezer Hardbroom. Harry stood next to Elphaba at the office like living room window looking over the square. Despite the euphoria of the weddings and 'honeymoon' it took the past week and a half for Elphaba and Constance to arrange Ebenezer's funeral, since he was a public figure and the Queens Advisor The Royal Family and the Palace offered help, this ended up a double edged sword as everything was done quickly but it would be broadcasted over the television. This set Elphaba back to being extremely sad. Constance Hardbroom sat on the finely decorated couch looking around the room with just about concealed interest.
"This room felt too large when I was a child" Constance said reflecting on her childhood "When I had done well on my grades or had failed a rare test I was Brought in here by your grandfather to discuss it"
Elphaba and Harry turned to her mother and paid close attention as she struggled with her thoughts and what she wanted to say.
"It seemed so big and imposing just like he did, even when he was being kind...the room is too small now without him"
Elphaba walked to her mother as she began crying and sat beside her as Harry looked out of the window and saw two funeral cars pull up in front of the house and a Horse drawn carriage holding the coffin pulling into the close.
"Mother" she murmured quietly conjuring a hanker-chief for her "Grandfather is in a better place now...He can no longer be hurt or hurt others"
Constance nodded as Sirius knocked on the door and stood at the threshold.
"It's Time" He said softly holding out his hand Elphaba stared at it looking lost as Constance pulled the mourning lace veil over her face. After Constance left the room Elphie took Sirius' hand and walked downstairs with Harry and Sirius at her side on down outside. Where Lady Augusta, Neville, Susan, Luna and Daphne waited with the secondary driver for the hearse, Constance, Amelia, the three other champions and their parents as well as Minerva
"Will you be walking behind the hearse My Lady?" The secondary driver asked in a kind tone
The funeral ceremony was being held at Westminster abbey a mere ten minuites drive by car and a twenty minuites walk.
"I'll walk" Elphaba announced warbling slightly everyone else nodded and began entering the cars
"I'll walk with you" Sirius and Harry said at once, taking a hand each Elphaba shook for a moment as she blinked away tears
"Thank you" she murmured a moment later as they followed the coffin of her late grandfather towards his funeral.
The funeral itself passed and everyone witnessed his burial at the graveyard outside of London. The small party afterwards was held at Buckingham palace itself. The queen was rather insistent about it. Elphaba stood up to give a speech on her grandfather's life; Constance was supposed to do it but had dissolved into quiet tears. She walked to the front and looked over the crowd of people making eye contact with the Queen of England as she did so.
"Baron Ebenezer Hardbroom, a Pompous Windbag, an Advisor, a friend" She began sounding shaky "Not the best person to look up to on many occasions since he was many things to many people. On top of everything you could say about him...He was a man very dead-set on his principles...and when you needed him most he was there...When..."
Harry got to his feet and joined Elphaba by her side supporting her just as she needed it "When you good people think back over his life" Elphaba continued after a moment looking over the crowd "Think of him as a man who tried, despite his mistakes and triumphs to do the good thing for himself and everyone around him...I should know he was my Grandfather and I'll strive to remember him for the good he did for me"
"Your grandfather was a good man when it came to it" Queen Elizabeth said as she walked down the corridor with Harry and Elphaba "And a good advisor on the wizarding world when it came down to it as well"
"Do you have a replacement for him yet your majesty?" Elphaba asked in a soft tone
"Not as of yet Baroness Hardbroom" the Queen replied as they stopped at a window to look over the small crowd outside "I know you're to take your grandfathers title child, your mother no longer wanted it when she returned from the US with you in tow and Ben gave up trying to convince her otherwise...your Grandfather was one of my few best friends I wouldn't have given him up for anything"
Harry and Elphaba heard her Grandfather's nickname and smiled, it wouldn't be surprising if he did state that in the wills and Elphaba knew Ebenezer considered his sovereign his best friend too.
"My mother gave up caring when I was a child" Elphaba admitted sighing thinking back over her childhood "It became very strained over the years"
"She was well beyond that point when I met her too" Harry added thinking over potential successors to the Royal Witch/Wizard Post "Have you ever thought of Lady Longbottom Ma'am as the Royal Witch?"
Queen Elizabeth turned to Harry with a thoughtful look upon her face. Lady Augusta had been introduced to the Queen alongside Neville and Luna during the past few hours and the two women hit it off rather well.
"I will take her into consideration" She replied after a moment "I wish for whoever fills the post to be happy with it I will force no-one to take the position if they do not wish it"
AUTHORS NOTE:
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It has taken me quite a while to get this Chapter right within the flow of this story especially when this Chapter sets up several instances within two future stories.
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OMG THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE FAVOURATED (not a real word I know) THIS STORY...YOU SERIOUSLY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT ACTUALLY MEANS TO ME.
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THANK YOU ALL FOR READING CHAPTER TEN OF THE HOGWARTS CABAL.
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CHAPTER ELEVEN UP SOON.
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CONSTRUCTIVE REVIEWS WELOME ALL FLAMERS WILL BE SENT TO FRANK IN HELL.
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ALL READERS AND REVIEWERS KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DOING.
I LOVE YOU.
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Since this story HAS NO BETA it will have spelling mistakes and Grammar errors the spell-check or I will miss so bare with me.
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THANK YOU ALL I'M OFF TO RULE A KINGDOM.
