Posted on: 09/05/2014 at 15:30 GMT/UTC/Zulu.
AN: Thank you to my reviewers angel897, KatiriaM, TiraLu, KEZZ 1, Lamia of the Dark and OCD ADD Goldfish and all those who favourited and followed this story.
My laptop died. The motherboard is shot and not replaceable. :( Until I can afford a new one I'll be borrowing whatever I can get my hands on and fighting my family for the desktop. Hopefully that won't stop me posting a new chapter every week. I am a little ahead and have a few chapters already ready so that should help.
Next chapter will be up on or by 16/05/2014.
The Marriage Curse
Memento Mori
Hermione sat in front of Professor Umbridge's desk with her hands clenched in her lap. It was before breakfast and she wished Professor McGonagall was with her as backup.
Professor Umbridge poured herself a cup of tea and offered her one. Hermione politely declined. Professor Umbridge shrugged and added milk and a sickening amount of sugar to her own.
"Now Miss Granger I understand that this is upsetting." Professor Umbridge started, taking a sip of tea. "The accident that killed your parents was a terrible thing."
Hermione clenched her jaw and said nothing. Confronting this woman directly was not the way to deal with her.
"The fact is that we need to settle the issue of your guardianship." Professor Umbridge said.
Hermione knew the ministry would never count the extra year she'd gained from her time turner use in third year. However she was sixteen by their reckoning and she knew more than Umbridge thought she did about the magical world.
"I understand that because I'm Muggleborn the current Headmaster of Hogwarts is my magical guardian." Hermione said calmly.
Professor Umbridge smiled. "I'm afraid the Wizarding Children's Services do not see Professor Dumbledore as a fit guardian for you at this time."
Hermione had expected an answer like that and smiled again.
"Professor Dumbledore quite agrees. As I am to be married within six months anyway due to the curse, granting me legal adult status, he decided that it wouldn't do me any harm to grant me that status a little early. He countersigned and filed my application for emancipation with the ministry last night." Hermione said.
She smiled serenely as Professor Umbridge went pink with rage. She set her tea cup down harder than necessary slopping a bit of the liquid onto the saucer.
"I don't expect there to be any problems." Hermione said.
"Professor Dumbledore has also granted me two days compassionate leave so that I can sort out my parents estate." She added.
Professor Umbridge's hand tightened on the tea cup so hard Hermione thought it might shatter.
"May I be excused?" She asked.
Professor Umbridge looked incensed but waved her hand at her. Hermione stood and walked out of the office.
Hermione one. Toad woman zero. She thought.
She headed down to breakfast.
Hermione looked up from her eggs as the hall filled with owls bringing the post. Three swooped down to her. One brought the Daily Prophet and she paid him and took the paper. The other dropped an envelope, grabbed a rasher of bacon from the platter on the table and flew away. The third was an official Ministry owl. She took a deep breath as she took the scroll it brought.
Despite her bravado in Professor Umbridge's office she wasn't sure the Ministry would grant her emancipation. If they didn't then she might end up under the guardianship of some ministry puppets or a couple of Death Eaters.
She reminded herself that if they refused to emancipate her Luna had researched all the old ways to get married that the Ministry still recognised and Harry had agreed to marry her immediately if they refused her request. She would not be under anyone's control.
She picked up a butter knife, pried the seal off and unfurled the scroll.
Dear Miss Granger,
We are sorry to hear of the unfortunate deaths of your parents.
Under the circumstances we have decided to grant your petition for emancipation.
You are now an adult under wizarding law with all the responsibilities and privileges that affords.
Hoping you have a nice day,
Auriga Featherstone,
Secretary to the Junior Undersecretary,
Department of Wizarding Affairs.
Attached to the letter were the official papers. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, handed the letter to Harry and looked up at the Head Table. Professor Dumbledore was looking at her and he raised his eyebrows in query. She smiled and nodded back. He smiled and turned his attention to something Professor McGonagall was saying to Professor Flitwick.
Hermione opened the other envelope and found unfamiliar handwriting. The message read:
"Our new clan lives at Dumbledore Manor. Your personal elf's name is Winky. Destroy this after reading it."
Hermione gaped at the note for a moment. Dumbledore had given her Winky as her personal elf? Why? She didn't want or need a house elf. She sighed.
Hermione incinerated the note and finished her breakfast. She noticed Harry also burning a note. She retrieved her letter from Ron and put the papers and the letter into her pocket.
"I'll see you later boys. I've got to go and put my parents affairs in order." Hermione said.
Harry and Ron abandoned their food and scrambled to follow her as she walked out of the great hall.
"Do you want us to escort you to the gates?" Harry asked.
"That won't be necessary pup." Sirius' voice came from the bottom of the stairs.
Harry raced down them to give Sirius a quick hug. Then he and Ron returned to the hall to finish their food.
"Have you ever experienced apparition?" Sirius asked Hermione as they reached the gates.
"No I haven't." Hermione said.
Sirius nodded and drew his wand. He flicked it at her stomach but Hermione didn't feel anything.
"What was that?" She asked.
"Anti-nausea charm. Most people vomit the first time." Sirius informed her as he held out his arm.
Hermione took it.
"It's going to feel like I'm escaping your grip so hold on tight." He warned.
Hermione gripped harder.
"Not quite that tight." Sirius winced.
"Sorry." Hermione said as she loosened her grip slightly.
"Ready?" Sirius asked.
"No but let's go." Hermione replied.
Sirius disapparated. The world went black and it felt awful. She was being squeezed from all sides and true to what he'd said it did feel like his arm was slipping out of her hands. She redoubled her grip. For one insane moment she wondered if this was what toothpaste felt like. Then they landed.
"You alright? Take a minute." Sirius said.
He grabbed her shoulders as she swayed.
Hermione grabbed his forearms as the world span. She had never been so dizzy and even with the charm felt like she wanted to hurl. She stood still for a couple of minutes breathing deeply. The world eventually stopped spinning and she stopped wanting to be sick. She let go of Sirius. They were in the alleyway behind the Leaky Cauldron.
"Thanks for keeping me upright. That's a horrible way to travel. I think I prefer the floo." She said.
Sirius grinned. "It's fine once you get used to it."
"Why would I want to do that?" Hermione asked.
Sirius chuckled and turned to the wall. He reached out and tapped the appropriate brick with his wand. The wall turned into the arch and they went through. Diagon Alley was quiet. Despite the Ministry's stance there was a feeling of tension among the people who were there and no one stopped to talk. People hurried from shop to shop as quickly as possible and moved in packs. There had been a couple of nasty murders recently that Hermione knew were the work of Death Eaters and many more mysterious disappearances.
Sirius grimaced in distaste. "Feels like before." He said.
Hermione didn't have to ask. She shivered.
"Right. Let's go to Gringotts and get this over with." Sirius said.
He strode off ahead of her before she could ask why they were going to Gringotts when she was a Muggleborn. She hurried to catch him up.
When they entered the marble bank it was about as busy as usual as far as Hermione could tell. Sirius lead her straight past the people queuing at the counters and down a corridor to the left. A few minutes later they turned left again into another corridor. This one led to a hall which had a reception desk with a middle aged witch sitting at it and benches along the walls between several doors. There were already several witches and wizards sitting on them and a low buzz of conversation filled the hall.
Sirius strode straight up to the witch.
"Good morning sir what can I do for you?" She asked with a smile.
Sirius smiled back.
"Good morning. I'm here to help Miss Granger sort out her parents estate." Sirius said beckoning Hermione forward.
The witch grimaced sympathetically.
"My condolences dear. What's your blood status Miss Granger?" She asked.
"Thank you. I'm Muggleborn." Hermione said wondering what that had to do with anything.
The witch wrote the information down in her ledger.
"Take a seat dear I expect you'll be seen quite quickly." She said.
Hermione and Sirius went and sat down on the nearest of the benches. They were leather but not very comfortable.
Before Hermione could ask Sirius anything the door next next to them opened and a Goblin came out.
"Mr and Mrs Gladstone please." The goblin said.
A tall older wizard and a short older witch on the other side of the room stood and went into the room with the goblin, closing the door behind them. It reminded Hermione of the waiting room at the doctors surgery and her parents dental practice. That thought made her eyes prickle but she fought the tears back. This was not the time or place for crying.
Hermione managed to get herself under control. Several other witches and wizards went into the consulting rooms with goblins while she did. She didn't see anyone come out though. She turned to Sirius who was reading the Prophet.
"Sirius." Hermione said. "Why are we here?"
"To sort out your parents estate." Sirius said turning another page.
"Yes but I'm Muggleborn." Hermione replied.
Sirius looked at her. "I keep forgetting that you wouldn't know." He put the paper down.
"The Ministry of Magic has a standing agreement with the Muggle government that allows them to step in and manage a Muggleborn's affairs through magical channels if need be. This is one of those sorts of situations and believe me it'll be faster than going through Muggle channels." Sirius explained.
"Oh. I see." Hermione said. "So what do I need to ask?"
"You need to ask the Goblins to get hold of your parents will and execute it. You also need them to deal with any property you have. I suppose you'll sell your parent's house?" Sirius asked.
"Yes and their practice too." Hermione said. "I don't have a vault. Could I get one and get the proceeds turned into galleons?"
"That shouldn't be a problem." Sirius said.
A moment later a Goblin called her name and they went into his office.
The Goblin's name was Ripfang and he was highly efficient.
The arrangements only took an hour. When they left the office Hermione had a new vault, her savings had been converted to galleons and transferred into it and her parents will had been retrieved to be read.
Ripfang said that they should be ready to execute it by tomorrow. They walked to the door but as they did it vanished and Hermione found that they were back in the main bank. She blinked. She hadn't even felt the transition.
"What was that?" She asked Sirius.
"Goblin magic. No one knows quite how they do it and they won't give up their secrets." He said.
"It's better than apparition." Hermione said.
Sirius laughed. "Do you have anything you need or want to do in Diagon Alley?" He asked.
Hermione thought about it. "I want to go and see Mr. Ollivander and ask him what I should do with the Death Eater's wand." She decided.
Mr. Ollivander was pleased to see her.
"Good morning Miss Granger. What can I do for you?" He asked her. "Not here for a new wand I hope."
"No my wand is fine. However I recently came into possession of another wand and I was wondering what I should do with it." Hermione said.
Hermione produced the wand and handed it to him.
"How did you come by this wand?" He asked her as he examined it.
"I stole it. Sort of." Hermione said.
Mr. Ollivander gave her a curious look. "Please explain what you mean by that." He said.
"I was captured by Death Eaters. They took my wand away so when I got the chance I punched one of them in the face and snatched that wand while he was down." Hermione said. "Then I used it to summon my wand."
Mr. Ollivander nodded. "You didn't steal it then girl. A wand taken in combat is not theft."
"This wand is ten and three quarter inches, Maple and Dragon Heartstring unyielding. It belonged to Augustus Rookwood." He said.
"What should I do with it?" Hermione asked.
"Keep it. It's allegiance has changed and it's yours now." Mr. Ollivander said.
"I don't understand." Hermione said.
"Wands choose the wizard. It used to be well known, but is a little known fact of wandlore now, that wands won in battle will change their allegiance to the witch or wizard who won them." Mr. Ollivander said.
That gave Hermione more questions than answers but she needed to get moving so she didn't ask any of them.
"Thank you Mr. Ollivander." She said.
"You're welcome my dear. Now I won't keep you any longer as you must getting along. I am sorry for your loss." He said demonstrating his uncanny ability to know exactly what was going on in his customers lives.
Hermione wasn't sure what to say.
Sirius thanked him and they left.
They needed to go by Muggle means to her house since they didn't want to alert any Death eaters to their presence. That presented a problem. They were both in Wizarding clothes and Hermione and Sirius both knew they'd stick out like sore thumbs in Muggle London dressed as they were.
They were standing in the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron looking out at the passing crowds while Sirius tried to decided what they should do when two Goths walked by and Hermione had an idea. She transfigured her robes into a black lacy Victorian style dress. She transformed her handkerchief into a choker which she spelled around her neck. Then she used the mirror by the door while she cast a charm to paint her face white, her lips black and line her eyes in black.
"Hermione what are you doing?" Sirius asked her.
"Blending in. No one will think twice about two Goths in London." Hermione said.
Then she transfigured his robes into a long black velvet coat, his tie into a lacy cravat and added some chains and buckles to his waistcoat before using the same charms on his face that she'd used on her own.
She debated about whether she should lengthen his hair or spike it up before deciding lengthening it would take less effort as it already hung to his chin. With a flick of her wand it grew down to his shoulders.
Sirius looked in the mirror. "Are you sure we'll blend in?" He asked.
"Yes. We're a little far from Camden but the only people who'll stare are tourists." Hermione said.
They left the Leaky Cauldron and caught the bus to London Victoria. A few people gave them dark looks or looked at the askance but they ignored them. Sirius looked a little uncomfortable with the crowds at the station but Hermione steered him through them and bought lunch for them both to eat later before they found a train.
From Victoria they caught the train to Crawley and got a taxi from the station to her house.
Sirius made her wait while he cast a few spells to check for traps before they went inside. there weren't any and Sirius said it would be safe to apparate back to Hogwarts later. Hermione had to unlock the door with the Alohomora Charm because she had forgotten to bring her key.
She went upstairs to sort out her belongings and her parents. Sirius waited downstairs and ate the lunch she'd bought him sitting on the sofa watching the television which was a fascinating Muggle device. There was a rather grim looking red haired woman running some sort of a game that seemed to have something to do with a human chain as she was telling someone that they were the weakest link. It was an odd game and he settled in to watch and try and work it out while Hermione was busy.
Hermione went to her room first and shrank and lightened all her books and put them in her pocket. She took all her clothes and put them on the bed. She added Crookshanks' basket to the pile and summoned the cardboard boxes she knew were under the stairs. Once she'd put everything in them she looked around the room and hesitated. She had all her possessions but she wondered what she should do with the furniture. It was all in good condition. She thought for a moment and then sighed.
"Winky." She called.
The elf appeared with a crack. She was wearing different clothes to those Hermione had last seen her in. Instead of a small blouse and skirt she wore a neat tea towel and seemed far happier than she had last time Hermione had seen her. She looked rather wary though.
"Miss is calling for her Winky. How cans I serve?" The elf said.
"Winky can you take the things on my bed to Dumbledore Manor?" Hermione asked.
"Winky can." The elf said. "Is there anything else Winky is doing?"
"Are all the rooms at Dumbledore Manor furnished?" Hermione asked.
"Oh yes Miss. They is being very nice." Winky said.
Hermione nodded and decided to let the Goblins sell the furniture with the appliances.
"Thank you Winky. Take the things on the bed to Dumbledore manor now. I'll have more things for you to take later and I'll call you when I need you." Hermione said.
Winky bowed and she and Hermione's things disappeared with a crack.
Hermione left her room and went into her parents room. Their belongings were scattered around. There was a book on the bed, her mother's hair dryer, Her Dad had left several ties on his side of the bed.
Hermione felt their absence more keenly than she had before. Their room made her feel as though they were gone only temporarily and would walk in at any moment.
Tears filled her eyes and she gave in to them. She sat on the side of the bed and sobbed.
Padfoot found her there some time later. Hermione looked up from her hands when his nose touched her knee. She slid off the bed and hugged the big black dog burying her face in his fur as she cried. When she managed to stop he turned back into Sirius and insisted that she ate something.
Hermione ate the lunch she'd bought at the station earlier and then with Sirius' help she sorted out the fridge and larder and organised her parents possessions into piles for Winky to transport. She took them to the Manor. The food went to the kitchens or Hermione's dorm for the Gryffindor victory party for the match that was being played this afternoon.
They returned to Hogwarts that evening an hour before dinner and Sirius escorted her up to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione had brought everything she wanted from the house shrunk in her pockets. When Harry and Ron saw her they could tell that she'd been crying. They hugged her and then Ron had to ask.
"Hermione what have you done to your face and clothes?"
Hermione realised that she and Sirius were still in their Goth disguise. She reversed her spell work putting them both back to normal.
Sirius thanked her for that and left her in the care of the boys. He returned to Grimmauld Place.
Hermione brought the food she'd taken earlier and allowed herself to be pulled into the crowd of jubilant Gryffindors celebrating their win against Ravenclaw.
Please Review. Constructive crit is welcome. Flames will be used for dramatic effect by Voldemort.
Before anyone complains that Sirius is being stupid at the bank let me remind you all that there are things in everyone's culture that they're so used to that they wouldn't think they needed to explain them to anyone. I for one would not think to explain to anyone that train tracks in the UK are electrified so you can't touch the third rail without dying. Someone from another culture might not know that but to me it's something I'd never think about needing to explain.
I got the wand information from the Pottermore Wiki. I don't know what Rookwood is like in canon ,or if his personality is ever mentioned beyond him being a Death Eater, but I gave him a wand I thought suited his personality as I see him.