A/N: Harry Potter and his world belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights. I am grateful she gives us the privilege of playing in her world.
-oOo-
Chapter 9
-oOo-
November 5, 1996
Hogwarts, Scotland
Lavender was still bopping around all giddy and being very amorous. Harry wasn't complaining. He had decided to commit himself to her and meant it even when she was in this state. A state he hadn't seen her in since last year.
It didn't help that Susan and Hannah were now in the same state.
Parvati was having a blast with them, teasing whenever she got the chance.
Hermione had given him a long hug when he told her. He still felt like he had missed something really good with her, but he was happy with Lavender.
He thought he saw Ginny running out of the dance, but he just didn't see her that way. Hopefully she would find someone.
As they walked into the solicitors' office after lunch, Lavender was more down to earth than she had been since last Thursday.
A middling aged man in a nice muggle suite with vest and trousers stood up to greet them. He had shoulder length, dirty blonde hair and light brown eyes. It was more the man's attire that got him. Most adult wizards wore robes. "Afternoon. Come in. Come in. Mr. Potter and Ms. Brown, I assume?"
Harry extended his hand to shake the man's hand. "Yes sir. You can just call me Harry."
"Very good, Harry. And would you like me to call you Lavender?"
"Please," Lavender said. Harry held out Lavender's seat after the man indicated for them to sit. She took his hand after they were both sitting.
"Are you a little nervous?" the man asked kindly as he settled in.
"Does it show?" Lavender asked in a strangled voice.
"Not at all."
Harry gave a nervous laugh. It was just really hitting him he was only sixteen and wouldn't be seventeen until next July. Lavender wouldn't be seventeen until next June. He had a short panic attack that was only stopped by Lavender's grip. It was as tight as his own. They were rushing into this. They both could have dated or explored more in the last few months, they still had five or six weeks until they had to make this official...
The man was being patient. "I see a ring on your finger, Lavender. Has Harry proposed to you?"
Lavender looked as scared as he did for a moment before nodding.
"You do know you have until December tenth to submit your qualifications and a betrothal?"
Harry took in and let out a long breath. "We understand, Mr. Travers."
The man gave Harry an understanding smile. "If we are all on first name basis, please call be Henry."
Harry nodded.
"If you want to rearrange this for another time, or to have your parents here, I can reschedule for Saturday?" he offered.
Lavender shook her head. "I am not going to change my mind." She turned to Harry with a challenging look.
Harry shook his head. "I wouldn't have given you my grandmother's ring if I was going to change my mind."
"We can still wait until Saturday if you wish to have your parents present."
Harry took and let out another long breath. He was certain he was falling in love with Lavender now. He still wasn't fully sure what that fully meant, but he liked the way he felt around her and the way she made him feel. "I am emancipated, Henry. I don't have any family or guardians that could do this with me." He had the Weasleys, but he knew they were going to meet with a solicitor tomorrow for Susan and Ron. They didn't need to worry about him too.
Lavender tightened her grip even more. "I will be your family," she assured him. Harry smiled at her.
"I am sorry to hear that, Harry. Would you like your parents here, Lavender?"
She shook her head. "I will send a copy to my mother, but I know she won't want to change anything."
"Alright. Before we go any further, would you both please sign this retainer? I will have to charge you ten galleons for filing the paperwork. Hogwarts and the Ministry are paying for all my other expenses. There is a confidentiality clause. Anything we discuss in this room is between us. I cannot talk to your mother or anyone else without you being present and with your consent." As he talked, he pointed to paragraphs on the form that he put before them. "As part of the laws, all documents you sign as part of a betrothal, marriage or elopement, and that I ratify, are legally binding documents. Part of attending Hogwarts this year included a signed release. Lastly, you will also retain my services for two years should you need help with any legal matters related to any contracts or agreements we sign today. Do you need me to go over any of this in more detail?"
Henry slid the parchment towards them. Lavender picked it up and held it so they could both look at it. Reading through the document, Harry commented, "I actually understand most of this."
Henry chuckled. "Yes. There was some effort to make the contract understandable by everyone, especially since I am dealing with children as young as fifteen," he said, not sounding as pleased towards the end.
Harry looked up. "You don't agree with the laws?"
The man pursed his lips. "I have two daughters that will be starting here next year. I don't know how all this will affect them, but my wife and I are preparing for them to be worried about finding husbands as soon as they can. You should just be allowed to be children and not worry about this until you are older. I would actually prefer that you not have to worry about this at all. I can only say that it is pointless to cry over spilt milk though. My Anna and I have decided to stay. We can still leave before the Christmas they turn seventeen, so for now, I will make the best of the situation. Much like you two seem to be doing."
Lavender nodded. Harry was certain that if the Death Eaters hadn't all died and activated the old covenants that he would never have gotten to know Lavender. He also had the thought Lavender would not have grown up like she appeared to have.
After they signed the retainer contract, Henry took out a few more parchments. "Before we go any further, I must ask this, Lavender. I understand this might be very personal, but are you pregnant by Harry, or anyone else, at this time?"
Lavender took a little colour to her face while Harry paled a little. "No, sir."
"Have you two had sex?"
This time Harry's face took on some colour. "No, sir," Harry answered. He found both of these to be very private questions that only Lavender and him should really know.
"That allows you a few more options then. Do you have your compatibility tests and registrations?" They handed over their letters and registration paperwork. "I must admit you are more prepared than most." Hermione had made sure they had all this before they came today. After looking at the documents, Henry nodded his head. "Now, are you looking for a betrothal or straight into marriage?"
"What is the difference?" Harry enquired.
"Mostly when you will be required to get married. A betrothal will require you to marry by next Christmas, December twenty-fifth, nineteen-ninety-seven. A marriage contract will require you to marry within the next month. Either way, once either contract becomes active, there are some clauses that will be standard to comply with the laws," Henry said, sounding much more like a lawyer than before.
"Like what?" Lavender asked.
"Well, something that is not publicized until you are to see a solicitor or be matched by the Ministry, the covenants that were lain down were meant for proliferation. All intimate relations cannot use any type of contraceptives. No potions. No muggle means. No spells that would prevent a pregnancy. There are some powerful jinxes that will prevent it and let you know if you try," he said in a tone that meant they were not to even attempt anything.
Lavender's hand hold was getting uncomfortable.
"Next, there are clauses that require you, Harry, to provide for your children. Whether through contract or marriage, all assets are to be used to support and ensure your family will continue. If you are unemployed for reasons not related to you, you will be safe, but there are jinxes should you try to abandon your wife or children. You will be compelled to do everything you can. If you die, there are clauses that will give your wife, and your children, access to your estate. If you have assets worth more than five hundred thousand, then you can make allotments for any funds over that to others," Henry informed them.
"I would never abandon any child or Lavender," Harry said adamantly. Having a family was too important to him.
Henry smiled. "That is good to hear. Lastly, you are aware of the requirements of when and how many children you need to have?"
"Could you go over it?" Lavender asked.
"Of course. The laws will require you to be pregnant within eighteen months of being married. The covenant will help make you more fertile for that time. After your first child is born, you have up to three years to be pregnant again, and then again for a third child. That is a change that the Unspeakables confirmed last week. The Ministry has agreed to give all couples a thousand galleons for the first child. After that, you will be on your own," he said. Again, Henry had pointed out paragraphs on the parchments before them.
"Will you be choosing a betrothal or marriage contract today?"
Harry looked to Lavender. He wasn't sure he was ready to dive into marriage yet. He was actually feeling nervous that if he decided to make love anytime soon, then it would be a huge risk for Lavender to become pregnant. He wasn't ready to be a father yet. That didn't stop Harry from bulling ahead. Lavender spoke before he did though. "I want a betrothal. I am sure mum would like to plan a wedding and I don't want to rush into this. Is that alright?" she asked him, looking unsure.
Harry nodded. "I think that best. I am sure Mrs. Weasley will want to help."
Lavender nodded. She knew Harry regarded the Weasley's as close to a family he ever had until now.
"Good." Henry took up three parchments. "Now, I assume by your ages, neither of you have assets over five-hundred thousand galleons," Henry said, taking a quill.
Harry hadn't told Lavender how much he was worth yet. "That isn't true."
Lavender raised an eyebrow at him. Henry looked up. "I don't like to pry, but how much are you worth, Harry?"
He took out the small ledger book the goblins had given him. After flipping through to the last page, he responded, "Just shy of one-point-two million galleons and about three hundred and eighty thousand in heirlooms and properties. Some of them the goblins could not provide an estimate on with them being one-of-a-kind items."
Henry looked a little shocked.
Lavender's mouth dropped open. "You are worth how much?"
Harry cringed then handed her the book. If she was going to be his wife, harry figured it was fair to know. "This is a ledger book the goblins gave me. I lost some on some old debts, but I am making about a thousand galleons a month."
"Holy shite, Harry," Lavender said, letting his hand go and taking the ledger book.
Henry chuckled. "I take it the future Mrs. Potter didn't know about this?"
"I didn't know until this last summer, after my godfather died," Harry said.
Lavender looked up at him, the shock wearing off a little. "I'm so sorry, Harry."
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, having assets like that, you would be able to set up a prenuptial to allow Lavender or your children up to five-hundred thousand galleons and any heirlooms to go to them, while you decide what you do with the rest of your estate," Henry said.
Harry met Lavenders brown eyes. "Lavender and any children we have get everything," he said without thinking.
"Harry, that is a lot of money," Lavender said.
"Lav, I don't have anyone else. I think we should give some to the Weasley's, probably Hermione, but almost everything should go to you," Harry said with sincerity.
She bit her lip and looked down at the ledger book again. "This is a lot of galleons, Harry."
"So? You and any children we have should be taken care of," he countered.
After a moment, she nodded.
"Lavender, do you have any assets?" Henry asked.
"Just a trust vault that was left from my father. It's worth about twelve-thousand galleons," she said, looking into his eyes again.
Henry nodded. "Are you both in agreement of Harry declaring Lavender as the sole beneficiary for now?"
"Yes," Harry said. After a moment, Lavender nodded her agreement.
It was another twenty minutes going through some other fine points before the betrothal was put before them. "If you both sign today, I will send the paperwork in. So far, the few I have done have been accepted within a few days."
Lavender's hand shook a little as she took the feather, then signed her name. Harry's was steadier. He was always steady when it came down to the act of having to be brave. Even when he had to use a blood quill again and was throwing himself into the unknown. Once done, Henry took the paperwork and added his own signature. "Ten galleons for the filing fee, please."
Harry paid the man.
When they walked out of the room, Lavender was holding his hand. "You alright?"
He gave her a genuine smile. "Yeah. I think I am. You?"
She pulled him closer, and he leaned down just a little to kiss her. Harry swore he had grown some. "I am too," she said after the kiss.
Harry pulled her to the side, leaning against the wall to pull her in and having her press her body against his. She gave him a smile. "So, I'm really going to be Mrs. Potter?" Like it had hit him earlier, it seemed to really be sinking in with her now.
"Yeah," Harry replied. She nodded before biting her lip. He kissed it as she thought. "What are you thinking?"
"I want to talk to mum this weekend. Do you think McGonagall will give us a pass to go to London? Maybe stay a night or two?" she put to him.
"Probably," he replied.
She was still biting her lip. "Harry, do you love me?"
He smiled at her. "Yeah, I think I do."
"Enough to get married either over Christmas or Easter?" she put to him.
Harry blinked. He thought they would wait for the summer. "Uhm, sure."
The look she gave him let him know he was in a little bit of trouble. "This isn't just a 'sure' answer. I know we are rushing this, but I would like to sleep with you. Sleep with you as my husband," she told him.
Harry's heart thudded in his chest. He would be lying to himself if he said he didn't want to sleep with her as well. "Don't you want a big wedding? Could that be arranged in that short of a time?"
Lavender gave him a smile. "I only have a few close friends and my mother. I don't want a bunch of people there that I don't know. I don't think you do either. I do want a white dress and to be bound by a Bonder."
He smiled. "I'll get you whatever dress you want," he promised.
"You really are that rich?"
He ran a hand over the back of his neck. "Does it bother you?"
"Merlin, no. I was just surprised," she replied. "You really want me to have access to all that?"
"Why not? I don't get the feeling you'll do a runner on me. Besides, most of it wasn't really mine to begin with."
She gave him a curious look. "What do you mean?"
"Well, my parents left me about three-hundred thousand. Then Sirius left me about the same. When the Lestranges all died, I was given the vaults as Regent Black, since the Blacks were the only surviving line related to them. Lastly, the Malfoy's violated the marriage contract between the Blacks and them and I got back all the dowry Narcissa was given," he explained to her. "The goblins then took all the dark artifacts and heirlooms and either sold them or melted them down. The only bad thing was that the House of Black had a bunch of debt that needed to be collected, so I lost almost four-hundred thousand."
Lavender looked a little shocked. "You really don't do things by half, do you?"
He laughed. "Not really. Are you upset I didn't tell you?"
She pecked his lips. "No. That isn't something you should ever really tell people, except family."
"Like my fiancée?"
"That is a given," she said. "Fiancée? I like that."
"I do too," he replied.
Lavender got a saucy smirk. "Should we go celebrate?"
"What did you have in mind?" He was thinking of a few things that might be fun.
She giggled at the look on his face. "I was just thinking a butterbeer down at the Three Broomsticks after we send my mum a letter."
He was a little disappointed and she giggled at him again. "Don't be too disappointed."
He tried to cover for himself. "No, I was thinking the Three Broomsticks too."
She kissed him. "No, you weren't. Maybe after a nice dinner I might need desert."
His heart pounded blood to his other head at the glint in her eyes.
-oOo-
November 9, 1996
Hogwarts, Scotland
Amelia was happy to be out of London and the Ministry. Things were starting to calm some. She knew it would explode again when the first matches were made, but the mess left over after all the Death Eaters died was getting to an even keel. Today she was up here to see her niece and the boy she wanted to marry. Amelia had met Ron Weasley a few times over the summer, but she didn't have any real time to spend with him. Today she was giving Susan and Ron all the time they wanted.
Hogsmeade was busy today. Apparently letting all the third years and above go into town any weekend they wanted was popular. There were also many adult wizards today. Since the summer, those that were choosing to stay in Britain were frequenting Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and the other Wizarding enclaves more. It was nice to see, but it was still far less than she remembered from when she was a small girl. Maybe one day she would see the number of wizards that once call this land home return.
As she approached the Three Broomsticks, she caught sight of her auburn hair niece. She was laughing at something while standing with her friends. Hannah was looking just as mature as her Susan. Both girls were young woman now, just about ready to be recognized as full adults. Actually, Hannah should have just turned seventeen yesterday. Susan would be seventeen next month. Where had the time gone?
With them was a very attractive dirty blonde. Seeing a messy hair, raven headed boy, with the girl on his arm, she could only assume the other young woman with them was Lavender Brown, and the boy Harry Potter. Susan had said she was spending time with them, considering her betrothed was best mates with Mr. Potter. Between them was a tall, fairly muscular boy with blonde hair and blue eyes. She would recognize the son of Frank and Alice Longbottom anywhere. He was the spitting image of Frank with Alice's smaller nose. Looking at them, Amelia felt a little sadness.
Frank, Alice and James Potter had been some of her Aurors when she was just a Captain of a squad. Sirius Black had been too, but she had abandoned him while the Potters had died to keep their son alive, and Frank and Alice were still insane from the Cruciatus curse. Lavender had lost her father. As far as she knew, it was still a missing person's case. Then there was her own Susan, having to grow up with her when Amelia's brother, his wife and two older children had been killed. To see them all talking and laughing with each other was heartwarming. She had a feeling she was looking at the nucleus of a group of friends that would be with each other for a long time.
If she wasn't mistaken, they were all betrothed now as well. From what she had heard, the Halloween dance had let to nine betrothals, bringing the total at Hogwarts to twelve.
"Auntie!" Susan yelled excitedly, running to her. Even close to seventeen, Susan still enjoyed seeing her. Her guards didn't stop her niece.
After a brief hug, Susan pulled her to her friends. "Auntie, you remember Ron, right?"
She held out her hand and the tall redhead took it. "It is really nice to see you again, Minister Bones."
"It is nice to see you again as well. I take it you are treating Susan well?"
The boy looked a little uncomfortable but straightened up. He was a Gryffindor and seemed to have the courage most of them were known for. "Yes, ma'am. I always intend to treat Susan well."
"Good man," she replied. "Hannah, you are looking very pretty today."
"Thank you, Madam Bones." Hannah hugged her before pulling back. "Can I introduce my betrothed, Neville Longbottom?"
"It is a pleasure. I have heard good things about you, Neville."
Neville took her hand and greeted the old way by kissing the back of it. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Minister Bones. I have heard Hannah likes to say things about me."
Hannah scoffed and playfully hit his arm. Neville cracked a smile. "I do not say anything bad about you," Hannah chastised.
"I didn't say you did," he replied cheekily.
Most of the others laughed. Good, they can act normally around me. Probably Susan telling them not to worry.
"Minister Bones, it is a pleasure to meet you. I'm not sure if you remember me," Harry said to her.
She chuckled. "I don't think I would ever forget you, Mr. Potter. It is nice to meet you outside a courtroom this time," she tried to joke. The boy looked a little abashed.
"I didn't do anything wrong," he said a little quietly.
Lavender took his hand. "No, you didn't," she whispered back.
"You did not do anything wrong. May I ask who this lovely young woman is with you?"
She watched as Harry straightened up, an obvious pride in him. "Minister, this is my betrothed, Lavender Brown."
"Ms. Brown, it is a pleasure to meet you as well. Susan has had many good things to say about you and your beau."
Lavender gave a satisfied smile. "Thank you, ma'am. I think he's alright."
Harry gave her a stink eye. "Only alright?"
The girl smirked at him. "Alright."
"I'll show you alright..." he muttered. Amelia smiled at them. Obviously, they were young lovers, as well as being engaged. Maybe there was hope the covenants will work better than she thought.
"Minister Bones..." Ron started.
"Ron, you are going to be family. Please call me Amelia," she told him.
His neck reddened a little. "Amelia, my parents should be here any minute. Would you like to wait out here or go into a private room?"
"I think you can enjoy your friends for a little bit. I would like to hear how all your years are so far," she asked, wanting to hear firsthand how things were in the school.
She wasn't disappointed as they waited almost twenty minutes for Arthur and Molly Weasley to show. During that time, she found Lavender to be very talkative, working well with Hannah and Susan as they tried to give them a run down of everything over the last two months. The boys just stood back, obviously used to this between the girls. It was quite enjoyable to see Susan so happy.
Her friends went to find tables in the barroom once the Weasley's arrived while she went into a private room. "Minister, thank you for agreeing to meet with us," Arthur said, shaking her hand.
"Arthur, if we are going to be in-laws, it is only Amelia when it is family. Please sit," she indicated to them. Susan had sat next to her, with Ron across the table.
"It's Molly then, please."
Amelia inclined her head. "I see we have been brought together today by our children?" She looked to Susan, who gave her a broad smile.
Sticking out her hand for the first time, she said. "Ron has asked me and I said yes."
Amelia's eyes opened a little wide to see the ring and stone on her hand. Molly took in a sharp breath from across the table. "That is rather nice. Are you pleased with this?" she asked Susan.
"Yes."
"Where did you get that?" Molly asked in a hushed tone.
"Harry," Ron answered.
"Molly, I agreed to it. Harry offered since you and our children are related to the Blacks. We are not here to discuss that though. Amelia, I take it you agree with this match?" Arthur asked.
"As long as Susan agrees, I have no say. From what I hear though, your son is a fine young man," she said.
"Yes, ma'am," Ron said. He looked nervous. Amelia didn't blame him.
"I am hoping you want just a standard betrothal? We don't really have much to offer as a groom price to the Bones," Molly said worriedly.
Amelia held up her hand. "We are not asking for anything, Molly. Susan has a sizable inheritance that will be part of her dowry."
"Auntie, Ron has agreed to become a Bones," Susan said.
This brought a silence to the room for a few.
Ron spoke up into the silence. He sounded unsure, but his eyes were only for her niece. "Susan has said she would really like to carry on her family name. I am the youngest of six boys. Dad and I talked about this a few weeks ago, Mum. I hope you don't mind. Susan and I have already signed the betrothal. I know Susan will be regent, but I don't really care. I love Susan. I really hope you don't mind though," the boy said turning to his parents before looking at her.
Susan reached a hand across the table to him.
Amelia still felt a little shocked. She thought the Bones would die as a mainline. Amelia knew Susan would be required to give birth to a child that would carry that name, but now all her children would be of the Bones line.
It was Arthur who spoke first. "Ron, we would never be upset with you for what you are doing. I think it rather noble of you to want to preserve the name of your future wife and your mum and I will support you in anything you do."
Ron still looked extremely tense, looking between her and Molly. Molly looked shocked for a moment. Amelia said, "Ron, I cannot tell you the honour you are presenting to our family. I will be happy to accept you as a Bones if there are no objections?"
"Auntie, we have already agreed to it. Ron and I wanted to talk to you today to let you all know. We want to get married soon after we get out this year. Ron turns seventeen in March, and we thought it would be best to get married then," Susan informed her.
"Mum?" Ron asked uncertainly.
Molly blinked. "A Bones? You will be a Bones?"
Arthur looked to his wife, a slightly disappointed look to his face. Amelia was all for this if the boy had agreed.
"Yes," Ron answered.
After a second, Molly was up and quickly hugging him. "Oh, Ron. I don't care if you are a Bones or a Weasley. You are our son. And you," she said, letting Ron go and turning to Susan. "Susan, you are always welcome at the Burrow, and I can't wait to see what grandchildren you give us," the woman said happily, moving around the table and hugging Susan.
"I take it you will want a groom price for this," Arthur asked quietly as Molly was already planning a wedding, leaving both Susan and Ron looking a little shellshocked.
"No. I would like to pay for the wedding though," she told him. Arthur looked a little relieved. "I would also offer up Grace Hall for the wedding if you want. We have rooms that aren't used if you have guest from out of town and a ballroom that can easily fit a hundred or more."
"We could never repay you for that hospitality," Arthur said.
"There is no repayment. We are going to be family and I would like to see more people in our home. I have a feeling Susan will want to live there. You have seven children?"
Arthur looked a little sad. "We have six now, though Harry Potter is as good as one of ours."
Amelia had forgotten that a Weasley was among the ones that died that night. "I'm sorry, Arthur. I wasn't thinking."
The man held up his hand. "Percy died fighting and standing up for what he believed in. That is all I can ask of my children. To follow their hearts and Ron's is leading to your niece."
"Mum, we don't need to invite all those people," Ron was protesting.
"If they are your family, we should," Susan shot back.
She had given a silent laugh as Molly sided with her niece. "Should we step into this?"
Arthur chuckled. "Let Molly have her say. She's been planning all their weddings for months. Once she calms down, she is more liable to listen."
Amelia nodded. "Susan wants a big family. I think she was rather lonely at times with how much I had to work and not having any siblings."
Arthur laughed this time. "I'm not sure any Weasley has had less than four in the last two hundred years. I have four brothers that all have large families."
"I guess she chose the right family then," Amelia shook her head as Ron argued he only wanted a small wedding, maybe thirty people. Susan and Molly were already up to a hundred and twenty. Yes, she knew Susan wanted a large family. Amelia found herself wishing she had spent more time with Susan growing up.
Arthur smiled. "I think Ron chose a good woman. Are you sure we can't contribute anything?"
"I have it all, Arthur. Now, if you don't mind while they decide the list, I have a proposal for you. I need someone that really knows Muggle technology. Previous Ministers had put a band on technomancy, and I think that is seriously harming our society. I need to know what the Muggle world is really like and what we can do to match it," she put to him, knowing he had worked in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts for years.
The man brightened considerably. "One of Ron's friends has been bringing me up to date on the new things, like how an aereoplane really flies. I think you should recruit more Muggleborns like Hermione Granger or those that can be trained, maybe at Muggle universities, to become enginameers to understand how everything really works and then help charms and rune masters. Maybe they can be the same people..." the man said excitedly.
She was figuring she might have found the right man to at least lead the new office she wanted. He didn't seem totally up to describing the new technologies Susan and the Unspeakables had been, but the man was enthusiastic and seemed to realize he needed real experts. She was sure she could find a pay increase for him, especially with the reorganization she was going to propose just after the New Years. She would not be the Minister that saw the Ministry go bankrupt or bury its nose in the sand again.
-oOo-
The same day...
Hogsmeade, Scotland
"Dean!" Hermione screamed as he grabbed her from behind and spun her around. Seamus and Mandy Brocklehurst laughed as she screamed.
"Tell me I am right then," Dean laughed.
"Never," she yelled and screamed again as she was spun around faster. "Let me go!"
"Say it!"
"No!"
"Say it!"
"Let me down, you berk," she screamed, laughing as he spun her again.
"He won't stop until you say it," Seamus told her.
"He is not right," Hermione yelled, her feet suddenly on the ground. She was holding his hands tight over his as they were still wrapped around her waist from behind as she felt a little wobbly on her legs.
"I am too," Dean said over her shoulder.
"You are not!"
"Right, time to spin again," he said with a laugh.
"No!" She grabbed his arms even tighter as she was picked up again.
"What did she do this time?" Harry asked.
"Harry, help!"
"Dean was saying Honeydukes was better than some fancy Swiss chocolate Hermione has," Seamus said, a smirk on his face.
"Oh, just let her down before she is sick," Mandy said.
"Dean! Put. Me. Down," Hermione demanded.
"Am I right?"
"No," she said with a laugh as he spun her around again. How had she gotten herself into this situation?
Dean finally put her down. "Fine. We are going back to Honeydukes, and you are going to try everything and then tell me I am wrong."
Her world was still spinning again. "I don't think I could eat a thing."
Lavender laughed. "I wouldn't stand near you if you did. You seen Parvati?"
"Last I saw her, she was heading towards the Shrieking Shack with some older boy," Seamus told her.
Hermione was clinging to Dean.
"Oh. Things must be going well with Burns," Lavender said.
"Who is Burns?" Mandy asked.
"A sixth year Hufflepuff. He asked her out this weekend," Lavender replied.
"Please don't spin me again," she said, finally letting her grip go some.
Dean leaned forward and whispered into her ear. The breath along her skin brought up gooseflesh on her neck. "I will convince you."
She shuttered, before challenging, "Not likely, but you can try."
Dean chuckled and finally let her go. Turning to the rest of the group, she smiled at Harry and Lavender. Harry did look truly happy so she would be happy for him as well. "What are you two up too?"
"We are meeting with my mum in a little bit," Lavender told them. "I was just wondering how Parvati was doing. I see you and Dean are well."
Hermione hadn't realized that she was holding Dean's hand. Dean gave a broad smile. "Yeah, for some mental reason the smartest witch in school agreed to go on a date."
"I am not mental," she scoffed.
"You sure about that?" Harry asked.
She glared at him. Was it the responsibility of all boys to be arses at times? "I am not."
Lavender gave Harry a look. "Behave or you won't get a treat later."
"If you say. Well, we'll see you later," Harry said.
As they left, Mandy took Seamus' hand. "Can we go to Madam Puddifoots now?"
Hermione had a hard time keeping the disgust off her face. Dean must have seen it because he said, "I think I'm good. I did promise Hermione a trip to the bookstore."
She brightened at this. "You two go to Puddifoots," she told them.
When they were alone, she said to Dean, "We don't have to go if you don't want."
Dean gave her an indulgent smile. "I think I am getting to know you well enough that you don't like Madam Puddifoots and keeping you from a bookstore could cost me my life."
"It will not," she laughed.
He chuckled. "Harry says it almost did fourth year," he replied cheekily.
"That was different. I had to drag him there. He was in that stupid tournament, and we needed research material," she told him.
Dean nodded and they started to walk in the direction of Tomes and Scrolls. "I have something," Dean told her, fishing a letter out of his pocket.
"What is this?"
"A letter from the Proliferation Board," he told her.
Her heart dropped. "Oh, I see," she said a little dejectedly.
"Read it," he prodded, putting it in her hands.
-o-
Dear Mr. Thomas,
The Wizard Proliferation Board, established under the Covenants of 1448, has been tasked with the review of all Half-blood wizards and witches. If a half-blood is found to have a link within three generations of a recognized line, they will be required to participate in the law.
Investigations into your heritage have proven inconclusive since there is no record of your father. As such, your position is unknown. Being of unknown heritage does not require you to participate, but you would be eligible should you choose to do so. If you wish to be added to the Ministry match in December, you may complete the enclosed forms and will be required to report to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies on November 13th at 10:40 AM.
If the application forms are not returned by November 10th, then you will be excluded for this year.
A review of your status shall be considered again next year in July of 1997. Should you be in a betrothal or otherwise engaged to any other witch, regardless of heritage, please notify the Wizarding Proliferation Board and no other investigation into your heritage shall occur. If not, a review will occur each year until you are betrothed or married.
Sincerely,
Madam Roberta Parkinson
Head of the Proliferation and Heirs Department
Subdivision of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
-o-
Hermione ready the letter twice. "So, they say you are free of this this year, but they might change their mind in the future?"
"That's about the way I took it too. Do you really think we might find something that could ensure I am not caught in all this?" Dean asked, sounding worried. "We haven't so far."
"I am not giving up," Hermione said fiercely. "Did Seamus get a similar letter?"
"Yeah. Just came in this morning," Dean answered her.
"I am tempted to raise the berks that did this just to kill them again," she said bitterly.
Dean chuckled. "You are a little scary at times."
"Oh, hush. I am not. Now, let's go see if we can find some new books on this," Hermione said, taking his hand. Before she could march him away, Dean pulled on her hand. She turned to him, and he moved in to kiss her. It was a nice kiss. A kiss she really liked when his tongue invaded her mouth. She met his questing tongue with her own. When they were done, her determination to help him was even greater. "No more interruptions until we look," she told him.
Dean laughed. "I don't know, I like that type of interruption."
Hermione rolled her eyes before kissing him again. It was a good ten minutes in the middle of the street before they took off towards the bookstore. Luckily many of the residents were used to seeing displays like that from the students of Hogwarts.