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 10
-oOo-
November 23, 1996
Hogsmeade, Scotland
Ginny was wallowing in her butterbeer as Colin and Demelza argued about the Quidditch game last weekend. Gryffindor had won, but they had been very sloppy, and it was only because of Harry they won over Slytherin. Two-hundred twenty to one-hundred eighty said volumes about how bad the chasers for Gryffindor had been that day. Well, there was some merit to Demelza's argument that having Crabbe and Goyle gone also made a difference.
Harry had been livid with his chasers when the game was done. She had fought with Katie all game as to the better strategy, and her best mate had been caught in the middle, receiving a bludger to the face during one of Ginny and Katie's pissing matches.
She was having a hard time getting over the fact that Harry was going to marry Lavender.
All her life she had imagined herself being Ginevra Potter, the wife of the boy-who-lived. That dream had slowly burned up over the last few years. As she came to realize just how special Harry was, he had come to see her as his sister.
Ginny didn't want to be his sister.
Ginny wanted to be more than that.
That would never happen now.
Lavender Brown had stolen him from her.
That was an act of treason that Ginny would never forgive, even if they were on friendly terms before this year.
Watching their other friends wasn't helping. Abbey Coyle and James 'Jamy' Ticker from Hufflepuff were just watching, occasionally adding their own comments. Abbey had her hand in Jamy's hand. Trevor Birch from Ravenclaw was sitting next to Demelza and making eyes at her. She either didn't notice or her best mate didn't care.
As she was wallowing and feeling bitter towards Abbey and Jamy, a boy came up to her.
The table went silent, and Ginny looked up as the boy cleared his throat. She looked up to see a dark hair boy whose hair was cropped short. His hazel eyes looked a little nervous and his more aristocratic features were attractive, Ginny had to admit to herself. He just wasn't Harry Potter.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Weasley. I couldn't help but overhear you and your friends talking about the game last week," the boy said.
She raised her eyebrow. The broad shoulder boy was one of the replacement seekers from Slytherin. Grant Sparkford, that was his name.
"Yeah, well, we were bad," Ginny replied.
"Ginny," Demelza hissed. Ginny knew that she didn't hold the grudges many did in their house against Slytherin. Ginny only had issues with those that had issues with them, and none of the Slytherin that seemed to hang out with Sparkford in their year had ever said a bad thing about the Gryffindors, or almost anyone else.
"Well, it's true. I just about lost the match for us," Ginny shot back.
Sparkford chuckled. "I think if you and Ms. Bell could find a way to get along, there wouldn't be a Chaser group able to beat you."
This comment caught them all off guard. With narrowed eyes, Colin queried, "And why would you be so willing to point that out? You're on the Slytherin team."
"I am. That doesn't mean that I can't recognize talent when I see it. Listen, a group of us are heading back up to the school and were just going to do some fun flying, maybe have a pickup game on the pitch. I was hoping Ms. Weasley and anyone else that would like to join us would meet us in an hour?" Sparkford offered.
Ginny rose her brow. Maybe doing some flying and beating up on some other Quidditch players might make her feel better. She looked to Demelza and then Colin. Demelza just shrugged as though she didn't care. Colin pursed his lips. She could tell he wasn't as enthralled with this idea.
"You play anything except beater?" Ginny enquired.
"I prefer Chaser but wasn't picked this year. Next year should be different with all three Chasers graduating," Sparkford told her.
Looking at her two team mates again, Demelza nodded. Colin still didn't say or show any sign either way. "Sure," Ginny said, pushing her chair back.
"Excellent. Anyone else?"
"Count me in," Demelza replied.
"I better go too," Colin replied.
"How about I come too. I can play Keeper," Trevor added. Ginny had to keep from snorting. Trevor just didn't want to keep Elza out of his sight.
"Sounds good. Would you join us on the walk back up to the castle?" Sparkford offered. He indicated four others, all Slytherin. Ginny recognized Heather Thatcham. She was a tall girl for their age with long blonde hair. Next to her was Adelaide Muton. She was a light brunette with a haughty exterior. Tristam Bassenthwaite and Irving Cram made up the rest of the group. They were cousins and had very similar looks: black hair, bluish eyes and strong chins.
"I would like that," Ginny said. Maybe if Harry saw her with these Slytherin he would swoop in and save her again? There were parts of the law that allowed those with more than one blood line to take on a second wife. Ginny could share him.
As they started to walk back, Sparkford fell in step next to her. Demelza had a smirk on her face that caused Ginny to give her friends a glare as she fell in with the rest of the group behind them.
"If you want, you can call be Grant. I hate being so formal if we are going to be having fun this afternoon," Grant offered.
"It's Ginny then. There are so many of us Weasley's I hate it when someone just calls out Weasley," she countered.
The boy smiled. "Ginny it is then. So, why were you and Bell fighting so much last game? It was very apparent you three were the better Chasers."
Ginny frowned, not wanting to talk about it. "I don't know. I think I was just in a bitchy mood that day."
He looked away, "Oh, I get it. My older sister is really bad, when, you know."
Ginny realized how he took it and her neck heated. "I didn't mean it that way," she said quickly, knowing her bleeding shouldn't start for a few more days this month. "It's just been, you know, a rough year and I think I've been taken it out on people I shouldn't."
WHAT THE BLOODY HELL! Why was she saying this to this boy? She couldn't remember them saying more than twenty words to each other over the last four or more years.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. My father had not been pleased with the laws and has been pushing me to find someone. All I want to do is play quidditch and drink butterbeer with my friends," Grant commented.
She looked at him oddly. "Aren't all Slytherin supposed to be ambitious? That doesn't sound that ambitious."
"Well, at some point I would like to become an Unspeakable, but there are a few years before that, so all I need to do is keep my grades up for now," he replied with a smirk. "Maybe have a small professional career in Quidditch first."
Ginny laughed for some reason. "So, until then, you just want to play Quidditch?"
"Well, there is the small ambition to win, but I would like some real competition for that."
She heard the challenge in his voice. "And I am not competition?"
"Not the way you played the other day."
She didn't even realize her Weasley temper had gone from zero to a hundred until she narrowed her eyes and said in a steely voice. "I'll give you competition." It was at that point she vowed that she would beat this boy. It also had her realizing she needed to listen more to Katie until she graduated at the end of the year.
Grant just rose his eyebrow. "Is that so, Ginny?"
Her blood was heating up. "Go get your gear and we will meet you at the pitch," she just about growled as they walked into the castle.
The smirk on his face was infuriating. "Well, maybe you can be competition."
"Elza, let's go," she said a little angrily, determined to flatten the boy.
As she stalked up to Gryffindor tower, Demelza and Colin looked at her a little apprehensively. It was never a good sign to see Ginny worked up. "What did Sparkford say to you?" Demelza questioned.
"Grant said I wasn't competition for him. The damned prat wants to be a chaser next year and said we weren't ready for him. I'll show him who the better Chaser is," Ginny snapped, missing the raised eyebrow Demelza gave Colin. Colin looked ready to laugh.
"The poor git has no idea what he just did," Colin remarked.
Demelza, looking at the gleam in Ginny's eye thought the opposite. "I think he did exactly what he wanted."
When they walked into the common room, Ginny spotted Katie. She marched up to Katie, who was laughing. When she noticed Ginny, her smile faltered. "Weasley, come to yell at me again?"
Ginny took in a deep breath. "I have come to apologize. I was a total bitch last week. I need your help. Demelza and I were just challenged by Grant and a few fifth-year Slytherin to a friendly game and who said we were not competition."
"I think he said you were not," Demelza commented.
Ginny glared at her best mate.
Katie eyed Ginny up and down. "You promise to follow my lead? No going rogue or arguing?"
"You are the senior Chaser and co-captain. I should be listening to you," Ginny said, swallowing her pride. She was more determined to beat the slimy snake at the moment.
Katie looked at her friends before shrugging. "Sure, Ginny. Give me like ten minutes."
Ginny nodded before stalking up to her room. Demelza was now starting to enjoy herself. "Ginny, why are you so upset about this? You usually don't get so bent out of shape over a simple comment."
"He's a bloody beater right now and thinks he is better than us?"
Demelza smirked, not saying a thing as Ginny pulled her gear on. "So, it has nothing to do with the fact he is a Slytherin... or that he is really cute?"
The loathing look Demelza got back told her she might be on the right track.
-oOo-
December 4, 1996
London, England
"What are the numbers again?" Amelia asked Parkinson.
"As of last Friday, we have confirmed two-hundred and ninety-one betrothals or marriages. Far fewer than I was hoping for," the woman said.
"How many are we going to match now?"
"There are far fewer men to match than we thought. Subtracting those that are now betrothed or in Azkaban, there are only four-hundred and sixty wizards to match with five hundred and forty-seven witches for the first drawing. Six-hundred and seventy-four married couples will be participating. That makes two-thousand and nine-hundred and twenty-seven magicals. We had originally projected that we could get over five thousand witches and wizards in this round. From our records, there has been a mass exodos of over six hundred that would have qualified leaving Britain, and more are threatening too," Roberta said, sounding a little tired.
"Our larger concern are the almost three-thousand half-bloods that we cannot trace their magical heritage. Without that trace, I have been assured they will not suffer anything bad, but it would help relieve the stress of those that have to follow the law," Roberta said. In the last five months, the woman had calmed about this being an honour. Amelia had her suspicions it had to do with her daughter losing out on her original betrothal and a few of her classmates now spending time in Azkaban for crimes that were horrendous.
"Unless the covenants require us too, I don't want to put any more effort into finding out those heritages unless it is requested by a person or family," Amelia told her.
Roberta nodded.
"The Unspeakables do not see any issue with this line of thought," Unspeakable number four commented.
"Head Parkinson, how many witches and wizards are there? I don't ever remember those numbers being discussed," Lady Exeter said.
"Far fewer than a hundred years ago," she replied.
"How many fewer? In all this we knew the numbers were lower, but by how much?"
Roberta looked to her. Amelia knew the figures and had just about thrown up to understand how close their world was to collapse. After a nod, Roberta cleared her throat. "The official number is thirteen-thousand, two hundred and fifteen."
There were gasps around the room. "And unofficially?" Augusta pressed.
"Seventeen-thousand and forty-four if you count the Muggleborn that have gone back to the muggle world over the last fifty years. More than half of our population has either been home schooled or gone over seas in the last thirty years. About half of them don't return," Roberta admitted.
"And this is the price we were willing to accept going forward? How many where there a hundred years ago?" Lord Chang questioned.
"The best our records can show is about forty-eight thousand in nineteen-hundred. That dropped to thirty-seven after Grindelwald. Voldemort was much more destructive in his rise to power than we originally thought," Unspeakable number three said.
"How much more destructive?" Augusta asked.
"In nineteen-eighty-one there were twenty-one thousand four-hundred and three. His Death Eaters eliminated many Muggleborn and lesser-known half-blood houses, or the changes to our laws in the seventies chased many away. More than three thousand fled the country, and those families that only had older members have either died of natural causes or left as well, bringing us to our current situation," Unspeakable number three replied.
Lord Chang put his hand on his mouth. "Why was this never told to us? How did so many die? I would have thought if the numbers were that bad that the population would have revolted."
Amelia sighed. "Bagnold and Fudge were afraid that the Ministry would fall if it was known. I pledged to not hold secrets, but I agree with them some. I think we need to release this information, and I have put things into effect that it will be next year but given the furor we have seen over the current issues, I have been afraid we will not be given the time to fix things properly if it was known."
There were many dissatisfied faces.
"You will let this all be known?" Augusta said with narrowed eyes.
"I have turned all this information over to the Unspeakables. They have made oaths to put papers and reports together. I have contracted with a few magical historians to put together a new History of magic that does not hide the true atrocities. Until six months ago, the Purebloods, and even some of your own votes, also kept this type of information coming out," she pointed out to the gathered group.
There was a heavy silence. When none of the others spoke, Amelia thought this would be a good way to break into another priority. "Has there been movement on keeping half-bloods and Muggleborn in our world," Amelia put to her Wizengamot members.
Augusta looked worried as she seemed to be considering her past actions and what they could do going forward. Augusta had been what many would call very progressive, but she had backed some legislation pushed by Dumbledore and Bagnold that allowed them to hide some of the unknown mass murders. Amelia doubted the woman realized she had done that, blindly following Dumbledore at times.
Everyone looked to Augusta as she thought for a moment. "I can assure you that there is major legislation on the docket for the Winter Solstice to eliminate all heritage requirements in any ministry hiring or promotion. We are also going to eliminate the Muggleborn taxes and the special tax exceptions for all purebloods and old lines. There will be a proposal to reverse the werewolf restrictions, allowing them to take most jobs, except where they may be exposed to anything that might trigger them. I think that will still be a hard sell though."
Amelia nodded. She knew this but hadn't been assured that the votes were there.
"Anything else?"
"We are also going to push for the up to twenty-percent reduction in Ministry staff you have requested," Augusta replied.
"Thank you. What does this mean for our finances with these changes?" she put to Williams.
"You could look at only a hundred thousand deficit by end of next year. Eliminating the Muggleborn taxes will affect our tax draw by about a hundred-thousand galleons, but you will add almost two-hundred and fifty thousand from the elimination of special exemptions. And if you can reduce payroll by the two to three hundred thousand I except, that puts the ministry on much better financial grounds," Head Williams provided.
"Make it happen, Madam Longbottom," Amelia commanded.
"We will do what we can, Minister Bones," Augusta said. "These changes may not be able to be ratified until the spring, summer at the latest."
"It's a start. I want more for the next session. We need to keep or entice back as many as we can," Amelia told them all.
There was a general consensus on this. "Any other issues we need to discuss for the Winter Solstice?"
"Amelia, we are having an issue in recruiting Aurors right now. Potion and Defence NEWTS are not meeting our standard in the last few years, and we are having to send our recruits through a remedial program. This is going to add a year onto their training," her Head of the DMLE told her. It was a problem they had struggled with for almost a decade now.
"Headmistress McGonagall, how are the revised programs going this year?"
"Professor Slughorn has said most of his students are very proficient at brewing, but two or more years behind in theory. He thinks this year's NEWT students may score a little low still, but by next year there will be more outstandings. We have been offering remedial potion theory to try to catch the seventh-years up to where they should be," Minerva told them.
"As for Defence, there is a core group that will be the best we have seen in many years. Most of our students are struggling to catch up. We have had too many years of inconsistent teaching and the hag the ministry had at the school last year just made it worse," Minerva said with some disdain.
Amelia pursed her lips as well. "Yes. Someone like Dolores Umbridge will not be allowed near any children again. Is it possible that the ministry could offer remedial classes and a retest of any NEWTS in those subjects next year?"
"I will talk with the Magical Education Department, Minister," one of her aides said.
She nodded before asking, "How is everything else at Hogwarts?"
"It has calmed down some, but we did have another incident with a lust potion. A seventh-year boy tried to slip some into a sixth-year girl's drink. It sounded like they were interested in a betrothal, but he wanted to get her pregnant to cause an elopement. The potion did not make it into her drink, luckily, but I had to suspend him until after Christmas," Minerva told them in a deadpan voice.
Amelia's lips pursed. There had been many incidents like that that the Aurors had been kept busy with. A few did go to trial, but most had been kept out of the papers.
"Is there any other support I can give you to keep anything else like this from happening?" Amelia put to her.
"Not at this time. I can report there are fifteen active betrothals now and we are having a Winter Ball this weekend. I think we will see a few more this week. There is a lot of stress in the younger years, but they are not as frantic as they were. The one good affect I have seen is that there has been more interhouse mixing. Without many of the hardline Blood purists as there were, and with Professor Slughorn working to reverse the stigma of being a Slytherin, there has been very few issues between the houses."
Going on, Minerva added. "We have also had our first three couples move into the suites. They are acting like any new couple would. I have a few reports of inappropriate actions, but on the whole, they are containing their new affections to their suite. I have little doubt that there will be at least three pregnancies by the end of the year, and most likely the desired number you want to actually have children next year."
Her ire was towards Roberta.
The woman had the presence of mind to not provoke Minerva.
"The Ministry is not advocating the birth of children before the parents have even achieved their NEWTS," Amelia stated. "We are all bound to enforce the covenants and the laws around them. If I could throw the covenants out without endangering our entire world worse than it already is, I would sign the executive order right now. Is there any disagreement with that statement?"
She challenged everyone sitting at the table.
"I may not agree with what is going on, but I think I will gain a very good son-in-law. The changes we are trying to make will allow our world to survive. I support you, Minister," Lord Chang said.
"I think my Neville is very young to have a child in the next year or so, but I must agree. The young woman that he is going to wed fills me with hope for my family and the future," Augusta added.
"Two of my grandchildren start at Hogwarts next year. They will be required to follow the covenants. I would have us get this right now so that they are not as stressed and enjoy their childhood before they must grow up way too early," Lady Exeter stressed.
"Well, this is the time to achieve that," Minerva said.
There was a silence for a moment.
Amelia broke it by saying, "I am still very much against this forced marriage and re-population of our world. On the other hand, my Susan has found a young man that I think will treat her very well. He has also agreed to take on the Bones name. Because of this law, my family name will most likely thrive again. I think many family names that were at the brink will survive. I just hope the cost we are forcing on those that are unwilling is not too high."
-oOo-
December 6, 1996
Hogwarts, Scotland
Harry flopped onto the couch. Hermione gave him a glare as her book shook. "Do you have to just fall like that?" she questioned.
"My muscles are sore after helping Hagrid all afternoon," Harry told her, enjoying the soft cushions.
Her book fell a little. "What were you helping Hagrid with? Why didn't you ask Ron or I?"
Harry rubbed his face. "I thought I've been a rubbish friend lately with how much time I've been spending with Lav and the others," meaning the other couples caught up in this. "So, I went down for some tea, and wound up helping him setup a paddock and then get some thestrals. A unicorn wandered close to the forest edge looking about ready to have a foal, and he took her in. I left when he offered be some rock cakes. What? My stomach was growling because it was after dinner!"
Hermione chuckled at him. "Did you eat?"
"Yeah. You have to love Dobby and his friends. I think I still had enough to count for a midnight snack and breakfast tomorrow," he told her.
"You went to visit Dobby? You didn't use him, did you?"
Harry laughed. "Merlin, no. I was in the kitchen for an hour. The elves threw me out when I tried to help with the dishes."
Hermione laughed too. "I can see them doing that."
Harry nodded, settling into the couch more. Maybe he was tired if his eyes were fighting to stay open with the heat from the fire. "Maybe you should just go to bed?" Hermione suggested.
He yawned. "Nah. Like I said. I've been a rubbish friend. It's been weeks since I really talked with you."
She gave him an understanding smile. "You've been busy."
His smile looked really pleasant. "I have, but you are still one of my best mates. No Dean tonight?"
"He went into Hogsmeade with Seamus and a few others. It's Ernie Macmillan's birthday this weekend and they were invited to celebrate," she replied. "No Lav?"
Her voice seemed to be full of mirth at the shortening of her name that Harry loved so much.
His smile was very contented. "Parvati and her were doing something to prepare for the dance tomorrow night."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "If I ever become that big of a girl hex me or something."
Harry laughed at her. Lavender wasn't that bad. Actually, she was nothing like what people made her out to be. Then again, he wasn't really either. "If Lav wants a night with her best mate, who am I to say no?"
"And is that why you are with me?"
"Originally I was going to see if you were busy and ask if you wanted to go into Hogsmeade to get a bite," he told her.
"That would have been nice. How about next Friday?" Hermione put to him.
"Sure." He agreed easily. Lavender wouldn't mind. She did not seem to mind Hermione and had actually mentioned he should spend a little more time with her. Ginny and a few others, on the other hand, Lav didn't want to see him anywhere near them. Though, since they signed their betrothal, she had calmed quite a bit.
Hermione nodded. When he didn't say anything for a few, instead drifting a little, she picked up her book again.
"I've decided I am going to go home with Lavender for Christmas," he said after a few.
Hermione rose an eyebrow. "What does Mr. and Mrs. Weasley think about that?"
"I haven't told them yet. We were thinking about going over Christmas day. Maybe staying a day or two if they don't mind Lav. If you don't mind, maybe we can stop over your place Christmas Eve or Christmas day too? Lav only has her mum and I only really have you and the Weasleys. Maybe a Christmas with my family would be nice," he commented.
She blinked at him for a few. "That sounds... really nice," she replied.
"I thought so," he said pensively as he looked into the fire. It crackled a little. Hermione, and now Lavender, where probably the only people that really understood how much Harry wanted a family. Ron paid lip service to him at times, but Harry didn't really think Ron understood. He had a big family.
"You really love Lavender, don't you?"
"Merlin, I hope so. I like how she makes me feel and I would do anything for her. Why did my aunt and uncle have to be such berks? I am pretty sure this is love," he said.
Hermione looked shocked at him. Harry knew he had never said that to her before. Lavender was teaching him to open up more about his feelings. Maybe that was a good thing?
"I am pretty sure it is love too, Harry. I know Lavender is in love with you, and I don't mean that puppy love thing I've seen her do before. She's really matured this year and I think you are a large part of that. I'm happy for you two," she commented.
Harry looked into her eyes. "I am too," he said after a few.
"So, did Ron tell you he is going to change his name?" she asked him.
Harry snorted. "I'm still going to think of him as a Weasley. Susan is really happy though."
"I bet. I heard how she thanked him," Hermione said.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Really? Ron has actually been very tight lipped about that. Seamus keeps trying to get him, Neville and me to tell him what we get up too."
Hermione bit her lip. Not long ago he would have found that incredibly cute. Now it was just his best mate. Perhaps he really was in love with Lavender.
"Well, maybe the girls talk at times," she replied.
He laughed to see the flush on her face. "And is there anything you want to tell me?"
She playfully hit his arm. "You are not a girl."
"Thank god for that. I like being a boy. You can still tell me though," he said with a mischievous smile.
"I love you, Harry, but I am not going to discuss my sex life with you, or what anyone else is getting up too," she told him, her flush deepening.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sure I can get it out of Lav if I want."
"You will not!" she said incredulously. He laughed at her again. "Dean... Dean hasn't said anything, has he?"
"Not to us. That is unusual. Usually, him and Seamus try to outdo each other. I think he really likes you," Harry told her. Dean better like her. He was not joking that Dean would have a very unfortunate accident if he hurt Hermione.
"Good," she said, a small smile coming to her face. "Do you mind if I use Hedwig to send mum and dad a letter? I can ask if you can come over. I'm sure they will say yes. They have asked me to invite you and Ron over before."
Harry nodded. He understood he really couldn't until this past summer, and then it just didn't occur to them. "I would like to come over."
"I'll ask if Lavender's mum can come too."
"Lav and Rebecca would like that," he confirmed.
"Good. Now, you need to go to bed. You look ready to fall asleep," she told him.
He moved and groaned. He was sore from all the work he had done today. Even with his wand, there was still a lot to do without it. He would have to ask if there was a spell to put nails into wood. "Can you carry me?"
She chuckled. "I have a wand. Can't guarantee I won't knock your head a few times on the way up."
"Alright, I'll do it myself," he grumbled good naturedly.
Harry got up and she took his hand for a moment. "Harry, you're not a bad friend."
He gave her a smile. "I promise I will be better."
"You have Lavender to worry about and a family to start. I'll always be here when you need me," she told him.
Harry gave her an intense look. "Hermione, you are part of my family. I will always be there for my family."
She nodded and smiled. "I always wanted a little brother."
He chuckled. "Sure, little sis."
"I am the older one," she replied seriously.
"I'm still bigger," he smiled and pulled his hand away as he walked towards the dorms.
"I'm still older," she called to him.
"I'll remind you of that at some point."
"Harry Potter!" she yelled at him.
-oOo-
December 7, 1996
Witch Weekly - The Yule Edition
By Rita Skeeter
As the date approaches for the first Ministry match, love appears to be in the air. Your darling reporter, Rita Skeeter, has shadowed some of the top planners and I have the weddings of year for you.
Edged on by the Proliferation Covenants, there are a record number of betrothals and weddings scheduled over the next few months. The two largest of the year will be between Narcissa Malfoy nee Black and Roger Glasgow. It will be a union of two old and well-respected houses. With any luck, Mrs. Malfoy, soon to be Glasgow, will be able to forget about her son, Draco Malfoy, who is serving thirteen months in Azkaban due to rape and extortion charges. After being confirmed much of their wealth was lost during the troubles earlier this year, it is no wonder the soon to be former Malfoy matriarch is running to the first man to take interest in her.
The following pictures show Narcissa Malfoy trying on various dresses and obviously planning out a very lavish wedding. The Glasgow fortune is rumored to be quite large, so obviously her husband-to-be has agreed to open his vaults for her. We were also able to get a hint of what she might wear for her wedding night...
There was a rather risqué photo of Narcissa Malfoy in a white, lacy corset...
Now, Mrs. Malfoy is a gorgeous woman by any standard, but the true belle of the year, the one that managed to snag who might be one of the most sought-after bachelors at only sixteen, is none other than Lavender Brown. Now, it would be understandable if no one really remembers the Browns. The poor dear's father, and her family on both sides, were murdered or went missing in the first war against the He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. In her grief, she has been able to find solace in the arms of none other than the Boy-Who-Lived. You read right, dear readers. Harry Potter will not be in the first marriage contract drawings because he is betrothed to Ms. Brown.
Now, Harry Potter has seen his own strife, losing his parents, his godfather and most anyone else this reporter can find is related to him. Apparently, Ms. Brown has been able to provide solace to the boy.
No details are yet known of their coming nuptials. Rumour has them marrying some point between Christmas and Easter. If that is so, have no fear, my avid readers, that this reporter will find a way to cover this event.
For the next year, the Witch Weekly will be covering every high-profile wedding we can, including any preparations and ceremonies.
-o-
"Morgana's tits, Lav!" Parvati squealed in delight.
Lavender looked wide-eyed at the picture on the front cover. It was one of Harry stealing a kiss from her as she looked a little frumpy at him in Hogsmeade. He had just eaten her last truffle from her hand, and they had been really good. A small smirk came to her face before she pecked him back.
A shocked look was on her face now. "Who?" was all she asked.
"It's all over the school for weeks now and I am sure many wrote home to their mums to complain," Parvati giggled at her.
"No, you ninny," she laughed at her friend. "The picture. I am positive no one was around us when Harry stole that truffle. Merlin, Parvati, I dragged him off into an alley and snogged the life out of him for like ten minutes. What if that had made it on the cover?"
Parvati wiggled her eyebrows. "Well, was he feeling you up while he did?"
Lavender, as much as she really enjoyed his hands on her, flushed a little. "He's a boy. What do you think he did?"
"And you are so virtuous yourself? How big is he again?"
"Big enough," Lavender said with a smirk. Lavender crinkled her brow. "I don't remember talking with Harry about when we were going to get married last weekend when this happened." She looked at the article again, frowning more. "Can this woman ever write anything that doesn't sound like a scandal? Harry really doesn't like to talk about any of that and I don't know any of my family enough to mourn them. I know mum does at times, but I don't remember meeting any of them."
Parvati sobered a little, plopping down on the bed next to Lavender. Her arm wrapped around Lavender's back. "I know you would have liked to know them."
Lavender nodded. "It would have been nice, but I always had mum. Then you."
"What about Harry?"
Lavender looked at the article. "Parv, I love you and you are my best friend, but I think somethings Harry and I talk about are really only meant to be between us."
Parvati gave her a discerning eye. "When the bloody hell did you grow up so much?"
Lavender laughed. "About the time I realized I had to fall in love by Christmas," she replied, closing the magazine and looking at the picture. "You think I can get a print of this?"
"I bet if you offer for them to cover your wedding you can get whatever you want," Parvati said earnestly.
"You slag," Lavender said affectionately. "I would never use Harry like that."
Parvati laughed. "Then use you. Maybe if you have them follow us when we go dress shopping or planning, you can get some free stuff? You know, advertise the shops you go to."
"Why are you a Gryffindor and not a Slytherin?"
"I speak my mind too much and would rather snog and go down on a boy then lead him around with promises until we lay in our wedding bed," Parvati said with a grin.
Lavender laughed. "You really are a slag."
"Only when I want to be. You can't tell me you and Harry haven't made love yet? I see the way you look at each other and how mussed your clothes are some nights when you wander back in," Parvati pressed. For weeks now she had been pressing Lavender.
"I told you, we have not made love yet. I was actually thinking of waiting until our wedding night... but, Merlin! Parv. I keep just wanting to pull him into me when we get that close."
Parvati giggled. "Then shag him then."
"This isn't just some stupid exploration thing like with Seamus or Michael. I really love him. I don't want to screw this up," Lavender whinged, putting the magazine down and flopping back on her bed.
"In about an hour, we are going to get you all dolled up for him for the dance tonight. I plan to hide every knicker you have and will find a way to vanish his y-fronts, then lock you both into a room until he shags you silly tonight," Parvati threatened. "You are not going to screw this up. He loves you, you prat."
Lavender glared up at her best mate. "You better not touch my knickers. I rather like some of them and so does Harry. And he wears shorts, not y-fronts. I can't imagine he would be that comfortable when he gets all excited if he was wearing y-fronts."
"So, is he as big as Seamus says he is?" Parvati questioned, a gleam in her eye.
"Slag!" Lavender yelled, grabbing her pillow and hitting Parvati with it. Parvati laughed and grabbed her own pillow. They only stopped once the door opened. Feathers were everywhere. On her bed. In her hair. Floating in the air. She scratched at her chest. They felt like they had gotten into her bra somehow.
Parvati and her turned towards the door with big smiles. Hermione was standing in the door, a raised brow at both of them. Parvati stuck her hand out and a finger right at Lavender. "It was all her."
"It was not!" She flung her mostly empty pillow at Parvati. Parvati laughed and did the same. Hermione just shook her head. "Can I just grab my dress and I will see if Katie and the seventh years can help me get ready?"
"We will help," Lavender and Parvati both said at once, dropping their empty cases and rushing to grab Hermione's hands. "We will make it so Dean can't resist you."
"I doubt he does now," Parvati commented.
Lavender laughed to see Hermione's reaction. "You are our roommate and Harry's best friend. You think we are going to let you get ready on your own?"
Hermione huffed. "Fine. I am not your doll though."
Parvati looked to be pouting. "Fine. You are helping me get Lavender all dolled up then. I'm sure Witch Weekly will love to get a picture of her and Harry tonight."
Hermione scowled. "Harry will hate that."
"I know. I won't do that to him. Trust me, Hermione," Lavender said to the girl. She looked into her eyes, trying to let her know she understood how Harry would feel. "There was an article that mentioned us though. If any reporters are there tonight, I think Harry and I will be one of their top targets."
"You are what?" Hermione said in a high pitch voice.
"Rita Skeeter did an article on some the prominent betrothals or marriages. Lavender and Harry were mentioned as some the top two most anticipated," Parvati said a little more down to earth.
Lavender saw the anger in Hermione's face. It was the first time since last year she had seen the stalking lioness the girl could be. "Oh, she did, did she. Let me see."
It took them a moment to find the magazine. When Hermione was done, she wasn't sure they would have to keep her from going to go find Skeeter and killing the witch or not. After a moment, Hermione huffed. "She didn't violate our agreements. She didn't technically say anything bad about him," she muttered.
"What are you talking about?" Lavender asked.
"A deal I have with Skeeter. I'll tell you about it later." Lavender wanted to know, but Hermione didn't seem ready to talk at the moment. Sighing, Hermione looked to them. "If I help clean all this up, will you help me get ready?"
The two friends had huge smiles. "We have four hours to get ready. I think that will be enough time," Parvati spoke up.
"It may be close with the three of us," Lavender agreed.
"It's four hours," Hermione said, sounding confused.
"No time to waste. You clean all this up and we will get all the makeup and everything out," Parvati ordered, already moving to her trunk.
"I'll help. We did make the mess," Lavender laughed at the huff Hermione made. Her wand came out and it wasn't long for them to clean up everything while Parvati got ready. Though, Lavender did have to take her shirt and bra off to get rid of all the feathers.