Title: Harry Potter and the Rise of the Dark Legacy
Author: enchanted nightingale
Beta Reader: pussycatadamah
Pairs: Harry/Lucius (eventually), Ron/Hermione, Neville/Ginny, Remus/Tonks
Disclaimer: The characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I merely use them in my plot for fun.
Chapter 11- A Weasley Holiday
Platform 9&¾:
Ron accepted his mother's hug but not without fuss. He glared at his sister for snickering only to have his revenge when Molly Weasley was in tears over how her only daughter grew over the term. Arthur observed the almost yearly ritual with a mix of pride and amusement.
Hermione's parents also approached, Hermione in her mother's arms. The two dentists were smiling and talking rapidly with their daughter.
Arthur spotted them and greeted them heartily. After five years the Grangers were no longer intimidated by the overenthusiastic ginger haired wizard.
"Doctors!" he smiled and shook their hands.
Hermione found the chance to go near Ron.
"Dad's at it again?" The teen smiled.
"My parents almost expect it now," Hermione replied.
Ron snorted.
"Here comes Neville," Hermione whispered, lowering her voice despite the noise at the Platform. "Don't look but Augusta Longbottom is with him."
"Hm, what are the chances we get out of this painlessly?"
Hermione shushed him but could not help a smile. It seemed to her that Ginny noticed the Longbottom matriarch as well and seemed to grow nervous.
"Grandmother," Neville said in a clear voice but the Muggle born witch could tell he was sweating. "I want to introduce you to Ginevra Molly Weasley," he said formally.
Ginny for once did not grimace at her full name and greeted the strict witch respectfully and rather bashfully. Hermione guessed it was because the younger witch was nervous and intimidated.
Molly and Arthur then introduced themselves and Hermione felt the cold atmosphere to her bones; Augusta was rather formidable, like Dumbledore in a way. Her parents approached their daughter and tried to fade into the background. They seemed to realize over the years which wizards and witches could cause trouble and Madam Longbottom was one of them.
Hermione could only breathe when Augusta appraised Ginny without many words accepted the girl in her home for the Yule holiday.
Ginny said goodbye to her parents and brother, nodded to the Grangers and followed Augusta and Neville.
"That was pleasant," Ron muttered.
"Oh, please Ron," Molly reprimanded him. "Augusta is an amazing woman and twice a mother. Poor woman… If I were in her place I really don't know how I would get through this."
Ron and Hermione were quiet. They had met Neville's parents last year and understood perfectly.
"Quite alright, Molly," Arthur cut in. "We better go home now. See you in a week Hermione?"
"Yes Mr. Weasley," she replied.
December 24th:
Longbottom Townhouse:
Ginny sat with Neville in the main living room of the five storey tall house the Longbottom's had in Essex, still under the Fidelius Charm. It was a quiet house with a small backyard garden that Neville had converted in his own greenhouse along with the last floor of the building. The house was nothing like No 12 Grimmauld Place. The cream coloured walls and the light brown woods with dark red carpets and many windows reminded her of her own home even though the air around the house seemed strict and not as cheery as the Burrow.
She had been given a guest room near the family, which according to the pureblood customs gave her a significant status in the household. She and Neville spent time alone but not much other than a few stolen kisses were exchanged due to the many portraits, Tilly the house elf and Augusta Longbottom herself. But Ginny did not mind. It was fun seeing Neville in his element and his own home.
"This is nice," Ginny said as they played Exploding Snap.
"Sure you don't mind? My Gran can be a bit much," the timid teen told her.
Ginny shrugged. "Wait till you meet my Aunt Muriel." She shuddered for effect and her boyfriend laughed.
"Still will you think that after meeting my family?" Neville added.
"Are they that scary? Oh, well, don't I deserve a kiss for courage?"
"I thought it was for good luck."
"I have plenty of that," Ginny argued.
Neville shook his head, leaned close and kissed her softly. A 'crack' signalled the arrival of Tilly with the tea, and the teens rolled on the floor laughing.
The Burrow:
"Ron! Hermione is here!" Molly's voice rang throughout the Weasley residence and her son heard her from his room.
"Coming!" he yelled back and ran down the narrow stairs easily; with practice obtained by years. He found Hermione at the kitchen being offered a cup of tea from his mother and his older twin brothers hanging around them making jokes.
"Honestly boys! In a Muggle district!" Molly tried to berate them but her small smile betrayed her.
"It was pretty funny," Hermione, who usually disapproved of anything the twins were involved in, admitted with amusement. "Even my parents enjoyed it. And it was really against the secrecy laws even if Muggle's have practical jokes like that."
"Hey, 'Mione," Ron came in the kitchen and Hermione smiled at her friend.
"Finally, the house is filling with people again," Molly sighed wistfully. "With you two," she motioned at the twins, "No longer in the house and even Ginny away emptier. Thank you Hermione dear for coming. Now Billy said he would visit with Fleur. Charlie said he could not make it but no matter, most of my children are home."
"I'll help Hermione move her trunk to Ginny's room," Ron cut in before his mother could get emotional.
December 25th:
Longbottom Townhouse:
Ginny was woken up by Tilly early morning and she was still bumping against the furniture as she got dressed. She was met with a wide awake Neville in the corridor.
"Good morning, Gin. Still asleep?" he asked with a smile. He pressed a chaste kiss on her cheek and was rewarded with a more alert girlfriend.
"I'm up and dressed," she told him. "So …presents?"
"What else? Of course presents, come on." He laughed cheerfully. It was nice to have her with him. He eyed her blush. "We usually eat breakfast after opening the presents. It was the only time my Grandmother would let me act unruly."
Augusta was already in the family drawing room with her early tea served. She wore robes, simpler than those she donned when she left the house but proper wizard attire all the same, while Neville and Ginny preferred Muggle clothes. The older witch motioned for the young couple to take seats next to her, close to the decorated Christmas tree.
"Good morning Gran," Neville said as he entered the room.
"Good morning Madam," Ginny greeted.
"Good morning Neville. Good morning Ginevra. Would you like tea, chocolate or coffee? It is only until you open the presents so we can have breakfast."
"Chocolate please," Ginny replied.
"And coffee for me," Neville said.
"Very well. Tilly!"
Ginny accepted her cup all the while thinking how to edit her stay with Neville to Hermione because she was certain her brother's girlfriend would pin Neville to the wall if she learned that Neville's family had a house elf.
"Can we open the presents now Gran?" Neville asked.
"Certainly. Ginevra, as a guest you go first. Tilly!"
Ginny was handed her presents from the house elf. She got a present from both Neville and his grandmother, a nice set of dress robes in sky blue colour to wear on New Year's dinner. Her mother sent her customary sweater in white colour this year. Hermione had sent her two books, one on jinxes (One Hundred and Ten Jinxes, from Wendy Gallan) and one from her favourite mystery novelist (Murder in the Apothecary, book 7, by Adeela Bamar). Her brothers sent her various knick knacks, ranging from sweets to prank material. Harry had given her a bottle of perfume (Amortensia in Spring, by LaFolle Perfumes) which she had a suspicion that Hermione had helped him pick. Luna sent her a pair of earrings made of quartz in shapes of cats. Her own gift to Neville was a book with gardening charms (Exotic plants, by Coralia Chlora ), which had her boyfriend itching to read right then; and a silk scarf for his grandmother, one she had made herself when Hermione showed her the ropes, and it was something that the old witch seemed to appreciate.
Neville received a collection of magical seeds from Harry. He got a collection of sweets from Ron. Hermione sent him a book on garden planning, a Muggle book that Augusta observed with interest (Creative Landscaping: Make Your Own Paradise in Your Garden). Molly Weasley signalled his welcoming in the Weasley family with a royal blue coloured sweater and a golden coloured 'N' in the front. Luna remembered him as well and sent him a book on grass fairies.
There were more presents from his aunts and uncles.
Neville's grandmother received presents from relatives as well.
It was not much later that they had breakfast.
The Burrow:
Ron hummed as he opened Hermione's present the twins singing carols in various tunes in the background. He smiled at her gift, a nice black shirt with a gold lion outlined on the back of it and a small bottle of cologne. He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips under the watchful eye of his parents, Molly especially.
Molly gave her son his burgundy sweater and Arthur gave him a wand holster he created himself. Bill gave him a silver knife with charms woven on the blade. Charlie sent him the calendar the Chudley Cannons for the next year and two tickets to watch his favourite team. The twins gave him some of their WWW products for free. Ginny sent him a book on grooming charms (How To Look Good, Even If You Are Hopeless, by Damian Bell). Luna sent him a charm in the shape of a ginger root, something that raised a few eyebrows. Neville gave him a book on Quidditch (Greatest Keepers in History: The Biographies, by Albert G. Redlock the IV ). Harry bought him two books (1. '' How to make your bookworm girlfriend happy, by Harry Potter [Note: Do it mate or I'll hex you.], co-writers, Fred and George Weasley [Note: Our ickle Ronniekins is all grown up!] and Draco Malfoy [Note: Not a single word of it Weasley or I'll make sure you won't father children. And blame Potter for this. It was his idea! ] 2. 'Chudley Cannons: Keepers through the ages', by Gordon Grabby).
Ron blushed to his ears. "I can't believe them," he muttered.
"What was that Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing!" Ron told her. In his mind though he cursed his best friend. Why did Malfoy of all people got involved with this? It was bad enough the twins knew it.
Next to Ron, Hermione smiled as she unwrapped her presents. She smiled at Harry's present, which was rather cheeky of him. She shook her head at the book (Names For The Little Witches And Wizards To Come, by Matilda L. Robinson).
"Prat," she muttered, fighting her blush.
There was also a note inside that made her curious.
'Well, 'Mione, I hope you have fun with Ron, but not too much, if you know what I mean… Not that it's bad. Still, I wanted to be the first to wish you luck. There is another present for you somewhere in there. Have a Happy Christmas!
"Prat," she repeated with a warm smile. She found the second book, a collection of poems by famous wizards and witches.
She then thanked Ron's mother for the sweater she was given in a nice pale pink colour with her monogram and Arthur for his book on Ministry positions for graduates. Bill and Fleur gave her a book on charms (Experimental Charms: Create Your Own And Charm Them All, by Balfour Blane). The twins graced her with their WWW products for illusions and she noticed, with a warm smile the silver bracelet Ron gave her. It had three charms on it, a green snake, a gold cat and a ginger owl.
"Harry, you, and me," the teen explained with a blush.
"It's beautiful Ron," Hermione whispered and kissed him fully on the lips.
"There is one more," Ron blushed again.
Hermione then found a simple silver ring with roses carved on it.
"Wha-?"
The twins stopped opening their presents and barrelled over the pair.
"Is that a promise ring?" they asked together.
Fleur smiled and nodded. "It eez…" she sighed. "Très romantique!"
Bill shook his head at his fiancée and glanced at his brother.
Ron swallowed. "It is nothing fancy, just a promise ring."
"Oh, Ron," Hermione breathed.
"I know it's soon, and we're still in Hogwarts but…You don't mind, do you?" he bubbled.
Hermione blushed. "No, I don't mind."
"Good," said Ron.
"Good," said Hermione.
"Will you put that on the girl?" Molly cut in.
The pair blushed and Ron placed the ring on Hermione's left hand.
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" the twins yelled and Fleur joined them.
The teens blushed but Ron gave Hermione a short kiss on the lips.
"We really must celebrate," Arthur said.
"I have just the thing!" Molly stood and bustled around the kitchen.
She returned with a dusty bottle of wine and a huge smile on her face.
Hermione smiled and leaned into Ron's arms.
"Sorry if she's a bit too much, I'm afraid she's on a roll," he whispered.
The girl giggled. "Let her enjoy it."
December 27th:
The Burrow:
The bliss between Ron and Hermione did not last long, as it showed that day during lunch when most of the Weasley's gathered together to eat.
Ron stabbed the baked potato on his plate and heard Hermione huff.
The twins noticed the tension and decided to tease their younger brother, subtly of course as to avoid Molly's wrath. Bill and Fleur were speaking to Molly and Arthur, but Bill noticed them and gave the twins a warning look. They shrugged and continued with their self appointed task.
"Trouble in paradise Ronikins?" Fred taunted.
Ron stabbed a carrot viciously and glared at Hermione.
"If you have trouble we can offer assistance," George added.
"We have potions-"
"-and spells-"
"-of all kinds," Fred finished his little speech with his twin.
"Mind your own business," Ron replied and filled his mouth with food.
Hermione rolled her eyes. She turned to the twins. "He is just being stubborn and petty and immature."
"Sounds like baby Ronnie," George said in a sing song voice.
Ron let his fork clang onto his plate. "I am not the one who…" he gritted his teeth.
"Come off it, Ronald! Blaise is a great guy," Hermione shot back.
"Blaise, as in the Zabini fellow?" George asked.
"The Slytherin boy?" Fred added.
"Him," Ron was petulant.
"We are together in Arithmancy and he's not such a bad guy, you know," Hermione glared her boyfriend. "Are you suggesting that I'm cheating on you?"
"No!" Ron's eyes were wide. "I never thought that!"
"Then stop being a git," Hermione told him.
Ron deflated. "I just don't like him."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I didn't ask you to like him. It is possible to have different friends you know."
Ron flushed.
Fred smirked. "Just another day…"
"…of our baby brother…" George added.
"…being silly." Fred finished and George pinched Ron's cheeks for good measure.
"Get off!"
Hermione shook her head as the siblings started throwing bread rolls back and forth.
December 28th:
Longbottom Townhouse:
Ginny read Hermione's letter and shook her head at her brother's actions. Still, it was funny, and in her reply to Hermione she told the girl so and advised her to tease him some more.
"What are you doing there?" Neville came in her room and hugged her.
"Hermione is exchanging letters with Blaise."
"Zabini? From Slytherin?"
"Yes, that one."
Neville chuckled. "So, Ron is jealous?"
"Yes, the git. He is unfair with Hermione. I wrote to her to torment him a bit. He deserves it."
"But why is she writing to Zabini?" Neville asked.
"Uh, that I can't tell you. Girls' honor and all," Ginny told him.
"Hm."
Ginny rolled her eyes at his amused grin. "Ready to lose again in chess?"
Neville sighed. "You said you would teach me to not be so hopeless against Ron."
"Hands on experience," Ginny replied. "And if you win I'll reward you."
"Promises, promises," Neville said with a laugh and let Ginny lead him downstairs.
December 31st:
Longbottom Townhouse:
Ginny smoothed her dress robes and checked her appearance in the mirror again. She wore Neville and Augusta's gift and had let her hair down only adding a light curl.
"You are looking fabulous girl!" Mirror-Ginny said enthusiastically. "Go get those old geezers!"
Neville snickered from the doorway.
"Think it's funny do you?" Ginny turned and found her boyfriend studying her and looking at her in approval. "You look good, too." She told Neville he wore black robes with grey clothes underneath and he looked really good. "Sexy," she added.
Neville pulled her to him and kissed her fully on the lips. Ginny leaned closer and hugged him, enjoying the kiss immensely.
Before it could turn into a snogging session, a cough made them pull apart and then blush profusely.
"Your uncle Nicodemus and your aunt Marta are expected any moment now," Augusta said imperiously. "You should greet them first."
"Y-yes, Gran," Neville stammered and hurried to greet them.
Ginny swallowed at being left alone with the formidable woman.
"Ginevra," Augusta said, her tone strict. "The dress suits you."
Ginny blinked. "Thank you," she replied, her eyes wide.
Augusta smirked. "I don't bite, girl. Had I not liked you, you would be back with your parents. To tell the truth, you remind me of Alice. You have spunk, and I like that. Keep it up. And watch out for Uncle Gregory's jokes, they tend to be tacky." With that, she left the younger witch alone.
Ginny blinked again and shook her head. "I must have dreamt that," she whispered to herself. She pinched her arm and then rubbed at the burn. A smile appeared on her lips and after a nod at the mirror left to join Neville and his family.
January 4th:
The Burrow:
Arthur Weasley chewed a bite of his eggs thoughtfully. The table was full of teens, some of them his own, and others not quite his but family all the same. One of the reasons he wanted a big family was that he could not stand the silence. He had been overjoyed when Molly felt the same as him. That witch was his other half; he knew it and it made him happy.
He glanced at his family.
Bill and Fleur were an odd pair. He had nothing against the beautiful girl. She was a bit prouder than he was used to, but she had earned that right. And Bill was happy with her. He could not wait for grandchildren from those two. He was willing to bet they would be a handful. Charlie's absence was something he had grown used to, but he still did not like. He knew his son was involved with someone but he had no idea who that was. The boy needed time and Arthur was nothing if not patient after all this time. He tried to stifle a pang at Percy's absence and focused on the twins. They were happy in their lives, even if they did not follow Molly's dreams of how to get there. He was proud of them beyond words and happy that they made something out of themselves. It was his ambition to have all his children happy and taken care of. And now, Ron bringing Hermione into the family was an added joy. He could only hope things worked out for Ginny and Neville, Augusta was quite formidable.
"Arthur," Molly's voice cut in his thoughts.
"Yes, dear?"
"Your paper. More bacon?"
"No, I'm fine." He took the paper and blinked.
o
The Daily Prophet: Malfoy Scandal: First Divorce in Malfoy Line
This morning the impossible happened.
The members of our Social Correspondence Team were surprised when the news reached our offices.
Lucius Abraxas Emris Malfoy with the help of the well-known legal firm of 'Scott, Patterson & Warrington', drafted his divorce with his wife of eighteen years, Narcissa Vulpecula Malfoy, nee Black, mother of the only son and heir of the Malfoy name and gold, Draconus Hydrus Malfoy, who is currently attending under Slytherin House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Divorces are nonexistent in pureblood aristocracy. The rare occasion of this case repeating was in 1257 when Grus Indus Black broke his marriage with Lacerta Dianne Goyle after fifty years of marriage and when their bonded contract allowed them to do so.
My dear readers, I searched deeper into the matter and discovered that Meinrad Frank Gertrad, Chancellor for German Ministry of Magic, has been visiting the Malfoy Manor frequently and Narcissa Malfoy, soon to be Black again, was seen in the company of said wizard in a few social functions in his home country.
We asked for comments from Lord Malfoy, his wife, and Chancellor Gertrad, but they were not available.
Rest assured dear readers, that I will get to the bottom of this.
By
Rita Skeeter
o
Arthur let the paper drop from his hands.
'Well, that makes things… interesting I suppose,' Arthur thought smugly.
"Anything good in the paper today, dear?" Molly asked her husband.
"You could say that," he was positively humming. Arthur wondered whether Albus had read the paper that day.
"Can I borrow the paper, dad?" Bill asked.
"Sure, son."
He missed the paper finding its way to Hermione and consequently Ron.
"NO WAY!"
The occupants of the kitchen glanced up and wondered at the noise.
Arthur cringed.
"It is not that funny Ron," his girlfriend scolded.
"It sure is!"
"Nothing is fun when a couple breaks up!" she glared.
"Ze Malfoys are not in love," Fleur cut Hermione off.
"She is correct," George agreed.
"Lucius Malfoy is gay," Fred added after his twin.
"He is?" Hermione frowned. "I never knew that. Does his son know?"
"Everyone does," Molly replied. "If Abraxas Malfoy had not been such a tyrant those two would still be single."
At the surprised looks of the teens, Arthur explained.
"I was in my last year when Lucius Malfoy entered Hogwarts and he was in his fifth when Harry's parents joined. Even then, Lucius was partial to the male population of the school. How old Abraxas managed to get him to wed a female, I'll never know."
"Well, both Sirius and Regulus were rather young," Molly reminded him. "And the Lestranges had already procured matches with the Blacks. The Parkinson's were at Bulgaria at the time and the Bulstrodes, the Notts, the Crabbes and the Goyles had already formed relations with the Malfoys in that generation so there was really no other candidate." At the surprised looks on the younger wizards and witches' faces she sighed. "I'm from a well-known pure-blooded family and this was basic knowledge when I was growing up."
Hermione blinked. "That is pretty complex," she admitted. "Are all purebloods related?"
Molly smiled. "Yes, and not only in England. France, Germany and Russia have traditionalists more than the rest of the world. But do not think about those things. It is bordering on depressing really. In this family we care about the happiness of our children. It is mostly the purists that still procure matches only based on blood and money."
Hermione was quiet. She had a few questions on her mind. "Are the Lovegood's purebloods?"
"I have no idea," Arthur admitted. "Molly?"
"Luna's mother was a Yaxley," the red haired witch remembered. "From the Austrian branch. Those were good people, unlike the British branch. Death Eaters, the lot of them. Still, they only have ten generations or so. A young family and the Lovegood's appeared about the same time, a bastard line of the Greengrasses." She shook her head and noticed then the incredulous looks on the youngsters' faces.
"Mother," Fred said formally.
"Are you interested in a joint venture?" George asked.
"No," Molly scowled.
"But why?"
"I will not help you air the dirty secrets of other families."
"Mother!" the twins sounded scandalized but did not really convince anyone. "We never!"
"I said no, boys. Now eat your breakfast; you have work to go to today, right?" Molly narrowed her eyes at them and the twins cowered.
Hermione shook her head; she was certain that those two would not give up so easy.
"I wonder how Harry is doing in France," Ron said from beside her. "Think he will find the divorce news interesting?"
Arthur choked on his tea and Bill gave him a smile; the teens were oblivious.
"Ron, you know that Harry and Draco get along now," Hermione warned.
"I don't have to like it," Ron sulked.
His girlfriend kissed him chastely on the lips and went back to reading the paper as the twins snickered at the dazed look on their younger brother's face.
End of chapter