Chapter Five

A silvery wolf appeared to Remus. "Moony, meet me at St. Mungos. Leave Teddy with a sitter. Maybe, Hermione and Sirius will watch him if they're not busy? There's been an accident at work."

Chaos ensued.

Draco sat calmly as he observed everyone. Narcissa sat stiffly beside him as she judged each one for what she perceived to be uncouth behavior. The Weasley's began trying to talk over each other to be heard: Bill and Charlie attempted to quieten their family down without the aid of magic. Andromeda turned her chair over in haste to stand to go to St. Mungos to check on her daughter. Neville tried to reassure her that if Tonks was able to send a Patronus that the accident couldn't be as severe as she may fear. Remus silently sat beside Sirius as his mind replayed his wife's voice from the wolf Patronus. Harry sat in his chair with his elbows resting on the table with his face in his hands. Give him a room of dark wizards and he'd have them controlled within minutes, the hard criminals, perhaps a half hour, no more than an hour, but the Weasleys? Only Molly and sometimes Arthur could truly control the unruliness of their children: but, Molly was currently in the midst of said chaos and Arthur was set for a business dinner in the busiest restaurant in Diagon Alley. Harry sat patiently waiting for the chaos to die down. Hermione, usually, one to attempt to control the chaos and sometimes the voice of reason within the chaos did nothing to stop it. She began taking small bites of the food she had placed upon her plate moments before the translucent wolf had arrived.

Sirius was the voice of logic, but he needed to silence the lot to be that voice of logic. With the wave of his right hand, he silenced everyone that was speaking although their lips stilled moved as if they hadn't been quieted by the Head of the House of Black. As if suddenly realizing that no sound came from their mouths, they looked at Harry as if he had been the one to silence them.

Harry shook his head, "Wasn't me, but I'm not complaining." He glanced to Hermione. "You'll need to teach me that trick, Hermione."

Hermione shrugged and said, "I want to learn that trick."

"Potter, Hermione." Narcissa interjected. "The trick you speak of is a perk of being the Head of a House. Within his home, he can silence anyone."

"Too bad," Draco drawled. "You or father didn't pull out that trick when Voldemort," He continued as he overlooked his mother flinching at the name. "Overtook our home."

"If only, that perk could silence your Aunt Wally." Sirius said, intentionally needling Narcissa. He then turned to his right to look at his best friend. He placed his right hand gently on his best friend's left shoulder. "Remus, Dora is okay."

"How could you know?" Remus said, his complexion paler than normal. His voice uncertain, full of worry and unlike his usual calm tone. "Her accidents usually don't have her in St. Mungos."

Sirius said, in a clear, caring tone as he said, "I'm sure that she has had an accident, but she is speaking in code."

Harry readily agreed, "You're right, Sirius." He looked at Remus and smiled. "I've never heard her call you, Moony."

"She doesn't." Remus said as he sighed in relief. "She refers to my werewolf form as Moony, but I'm Remus."

"Right," Sirius said as he noticed that the Weasleys and Andromeda glared at him. Neville stared at him kindly, but squirmed in irritation. "If I lift the spell, you must try to act as if Molly raised you lot with manners." Sirius raised his hands up in silent surrender when he noticed the glare that Molly sent him. "I'm not saying that you didn't, Molly. It's just that, in this moment, they are acting worse than a room full of Slytherin and Gryffindors after Slytherin cheated to win the Quidditch Cup."

Draco lifted his lips in a slight smirk at the barb. Sirius had insulted each person in the room in less than ten seconds. His older cousin was cunning and brave. Perhaps, there was a reason why he had been sorted into Gryffindor besides rebellion against family tradition.

Sirius waved his right hand in the air. "Thanks, mate." Neville said. Most of the Weasleys grumbled their thanks. Andromeda steeled a hard disapproving glance toward Sirius.

Ginny said, "I think Sirius is right. Tonks is speaking in code, but what is she really trying to say?"

Hermione replied, "Let's break what she said down. We've established that she was alerting Remus that her message is in code by calling him Moony. Meet me at St. Mungos, I believe is just that, meet her at St. Mungos." Hermione paused as she replayed the message in her memory. She tapped the index finger of her right hand twice against the tip of her chin. Leave Teddy at a sitter..." She trailed off.

Andromeda interjected. "Safe to say, that she doesn't want Teddy at the hospital, but why would she want Remus to leave Teddy with Hermione and Sirius?"

"Excuse me," Sirius said in a playful, flirty tone. "I am a fun babysitter and good with kids. You know this, Andy."

"Be as it may, Sirius Orion," Andromeda said, dryly. "Why wouldn't she say leave Teddy with Mum?"

"I agree, Andromeda." Hermione said as she ignored the tingle of envy that hit her as she watched the banter of Andromeda and Sirius. "It's odd for her to link me to Sirius to baby sit. I am more than capable of babysitting without Sirius." She rolled her eyes at the look that Sirius gave her. She added, "And Sirius is, sometimes, able to babysit by himself."

With his body language, Sirius pretended to be offended.

"She's leaving seeds of reasonable doubt." Harry said as he stood then began to pace. "She said, that maybe they could if they weren't busy."

Sirius said, "Which would mean that someone from the Ministry is in earshot of her casting her Patronus."

Ron interjected. "Well, mate, she did say that there was an accident at work."

"Reasonable doubt?" Hermione said, ignoring Ron's unhelpful comment. "What are you and Sirius talking about?"

Both Harry and Sirius ignored her. Everyone watched the pair in wonder as some stiffly sat not eating, while others ate with gusto.

Sirius said, "She's connected Hermione and I together before Monday. She's brilliant."

"Sirius," Hermione said in a tone that revealed her peevishness at being ignored. "I have been connected with you since I was fourteen years old, you know."

"Yes, I'm aware." He said in a dismissive tone. "Now Remus, what was the rest of the message?"

Remus replied, "There's been an accident at work." He paused, nervously. "I need to go to her."

"Could mean that there's been an accident at work." George said, jovially as he nibbled on his second roll.

"Since, she's asked you to meet her at St. Mungos and all." Fred added as he held his fork an inch from his mouth.

Draco smiled at the twins. He liked them. What he had learned of them during the past three years, he'd say that they would have done well in Slytherin.

Hermione rolled her eyes at the twins as she looked at Harry whom still paced. "Harry, please stop pacing. Remus," She said when she noticed him stand. "Please, let us know how Tonks is doing, will you?" Hermione added, "Between all of us here, Teddy will be okay." Remus smiled at her then left. She turned to look at Harry. "Is Tonks involved in your back up plan?"

Andromeda furrowed her brow in reply. She wanted to go with Remus to check on her daughter, but how would she explain her presence with her son-in-law when he received the summons? She asked curious and concerned, "What back up plan?"

Harry sighed as he slowed his pace to a stop. He sat down in his chair and pushed his plate backward. He folded his hands then rested his folded hands on the table where his plate had been. "Yes and no. We have two back up plans for the actual fundraiser, however both Tonks and Arthur are covers for tonight's meeting. Tonks has a performance review tonight with Slater and Kingsley. Arthur is meeting wizards from his office for dinner at a popular restaurant in Diagon Alley. It's vital that no one realize that the Order is having their first official meeting, in years. We are aware of what the Ministry has planned concerning the amendment, because you've been fighting it behind closed doors within the Ministry. We shouldn't be aware of it. Yes, we're aware of the amendment, but shouldn't be aware of the extent in which they want to go."

Sirius muttered, "Two back up plans for the actual fundraiser?"

Neville said, "Harry, I think I speak for most everyone here. Can you start from the beginning? The only thing that I understood from what you said is that this is the first official meeting that the Order has had in years."

Molly said as she held a slumbering Teddy tightly to her chest. She sat down near the end of the table as she said, "Can business wait until after dinner?"

"I'm sorry, Molly." Harry said, looking at her. "Usually, I would agree with you, but this time there are extenuating circumstances." He looked at Hermione. "Do you want to begin? I'll add information as you explain."

Hermione inhaled and exhaled deeply. Her lips tilted into a small smile when she felt Draco's right hand gently embrace her left. As quickly as he embraced her, he quickly let go. Neither had noticed that Sirius had noticed the fast exchange of comfort and encouragement. Sirius' brow furrowed in doubt and worry.

Hermione stood from her chair then gently pushed it in. Sirius turned in his chair to face her. He rested his right arm on the back of the chair she had moments before abandoned. Draco and Narcissa slightly turned in their chair to face her. Hermione took another calming breath before she began. "As many of you know, my official title is Attorney Liaison for the Ministry of Magic. I work as a liaison between the Department of Magical Law and the Department of Regulation of Magical Creatures. Four months ago, I stumbled upon an attempt to amend an existing archaic law." She paused to inhale a deep breath. "The law truly is archaic with language that is of no consequence for today's culture. It's much like in the muggle world, there are laws that many consider stupid laws, but are still laws yet those laws aren't ever enforced. To sum the current law: a woman aged 11 to 45 with any muggle heritage can become property of a Pureblood wizard if the Pureblood wizard pays the Ministry a set fee of 100 galleons. The law is clear that the woman cannot be forced into marriage, but can become essentially a slave to the Pureblood wizard. The Pureblood wizard can do whatever he wants to the witch of muggle heritage that he purchased without legal recourse."

Everyone except Hermione, including Harry whom she'd months ago clued in, reacted in various degrees of shock and disgust.

She continued as she her hands formed a steeple in front of her midsection. "The ministry is working to pass an amendment to this law in order for any woman of muggle heritage ages 16 to 45 to become required to marry a wizard of established Pureblood heritage. Essentially this amendment eliminates the original law and creates a new law, but if the ministry were to propose a new law such as this, there could be backlash especially from the decreasing in numbers, Sacred Twenty-Eight. If this law wasn't so barbaric, I could see the irony that the Ministry is essentially encouraging Pureblood families become diluted with muggle blood. However, Pureblood wizards are being given a choice. Witches of muggle heritage will not be given a choice."

Ron passionately said as he chewed a piece of roast, "I'll marry you, Hermione." He paused when he realized that all eyes were on him. He swallowed his food. He shrugged. "I know that we broke up, but come on, Hermione. Wouldn't you rather be married to me than married to some Death Eater?" Ron asked. To his credit, he did not look at Draco Malfoy. "You know, that this law must somehow be connected to the remaining Death Eaters, at large? If not them, certainly their ideology. I won't let another one hurt you."

Draco would not ever admit verbally that his respect for the Weasel King grew as he listened to him. Perhaps, there was a reason why he was considered a War Hero. And, here Draco thought Ron had been idle in the Golden Trio. Draco intentionally had forgotten about how Ron had offered himself up to Bellatrix when she tortured Hermione in front of Draco and his parents. He tried to forget everything that he had seen that day, but sometimes those repressed memories would crop up in his dreams as nightmares.

"Although, your proposal..." She trailed trying to find the right wording. "Is sweet. I'm not going to marry you, Ron. I'd prefer to marry no one, but when this amendment is passed, I will have no options."

"I wouldn't say no options," Harry said. He raised his hands in surrender at the look of fury on Hermione's face. "Yes, 'Mione. I know that you won't have a choice to marry, but you do have options on who to marry."

"How?" Hermione asked, outraged. "It's a bloody fundraiser, Harry. I'll be auctioned off like a prized cow for slaughter."

"Pause and rewind, Hermione." Harry said. The phrase was lost upon many in the room. "You didn't include the fundraiser in your explanation. Others don't know about it."

Fred interjected. "Is that why you freaked out earlier, Hermione? When George and I talked about the fundraiser we are invited to?"

Hermione nodded then looked to Harry. "Harry, I don't know if you heard, but Fred and George said that they received invitations today for a Ministry fundraiser on Monday evening."

Harry sighed as he said, "I had expected them to receive them, because of the joke shop and their blood status. Draco received a similar owl post." He explained for the ones that hadn't heard. "Within the amendment, there is a clause that changes the original law's wording of a set fee to be paid to the Ministry to become an annual fundraiser instead. Any witch not bought during the fundraiser will be free to live her life single until the next annual fundraiser. If a woman is able to not be auctioned off by the age of 46, she is free to remain single or marry."

"Maybe, you won't be bought, Hermione." Ron said in backhanded encouragement.

"Ron!" His brothers and sister exclaimed.

Neville added, "Ron, she's Hermione Granger. I wouldn't be surprised if she was the first witch auctioned at the Fundraiser."

Realizing the meaning behind what he had said in the attempt to encourage her, Ron said, "I'm sorry, Hermione. You are pretty special. I didn't mean that no one would want to marry you."

She smiled sadly, "Thank you, Ronald."

Ignoring the exchange between Ron and Hermione, Sirius said, "Harry, you said that there were two back up plans to the fundraiser."

Draco grinned as he arrogantly waved at Sirius.

"Absolutely not." However, the one to verbally oppose Draco being a backup plan was not Sirius, but Narcissa. The opposition exited her mouth, before she could think. It was unbecoming of her to publicly show opposition.

"Do pray tell, what do you mean by absolutely not?" Draco said with controlled anger. "I am a grown man who will marry whom I want."

"You are betrothed, Draco. Must you forget? Lucius discussed this with you the summer before your seventh year. Your father and Monsignor Greengrass made a vow when you were born that you would wed one of the Greengrass' girls. You will not marry anyone, but Daphne or Astoria."

"Must you forget that the summer before my sixth year onward to the end of my seventh year is a time period in which I'd prefer to forget?" Draco retorted coolly. "Daphne is like a sister."

Hermione said in a small voice, "And, Astoria?"

If his mother had asked him, he would have told her that they would discuss it later as he didn't want to besmirch a good witches name. But, his mother hadn't asked him. His first love had asked him. "Hermione, Astoria Greengrass is not and will never be my first choice when choosing a bride."

She smiled, sadly. Before she could reply, Narcissa briskly interrupted their moment. "Draco, they made an unbreakable vow. I know that you want to help, Hermione, but you aren't able to do so."

"They made the unbreakable vow, not me."

"But, Draco, if you don't marry Daphne or Astoria..."

"Mother, Father is in Azkaban for life. Death may be kinder to him."

"Draco Lucien Malfoy!" Outraged to the point of not caring about decorum, she exclaimed. " How dare you?!"

"How dare me? How dare you and father." Suddenly noticing all of the eyes and hear in the room. Draco astutely said, "We will discuss this later. Back to the matter at hand, Hermione's hand."

Abruptly, the kitchen door slammed open. Crookshanks escaped through the open doorway. Every wand pointed towards the empty doorway.

"Harry," Percy Weasley said as he materialized out of thin air. "Next time, please have someone else do the covert work. If it weren't for Nymphadora, I would have been caught."

Immediately, Andromeda asked, "Is Dora alright?"

Percy nodded as he made a space on the table for the stack of files he had duplicated then removed from the Minister's office. He tossed Harry the badge that he had used to override the Ministry's wards. He replied to Andromeda, in a distracted tone, "Yes, Nymphadora is alright. I'm not sure if she actually broke her foot or pretended to do so." He noticed the curious gazes looking at him. "She fell while trying to distract the Minister and Auror Slater from entering the, uh, office that I was in. I heard her tell them that she thought she broke her foot and she sent Remus a message via her Patronus." He glanced around looking for him. "Ah, good, he must have met her at St. Mungos like she asked." He paused as he regarded Hermione then Sirius. "Nymphadora is quite clever. She planted the idea of you two as a couple in front of influential people."

"Yes," Hermione said. "We heard the message that Tonks sent Remus. He was here."

"Yes, of course he was. This is a meeting of the most trusted Order of the Phoenix, is it not?" Percy smirked then it fell as he thought about what the stolen, duplicated files contained. "Hermione, I'm sorry, but without Kingsley's denial, there is no stopping the legislation from passing on Monday morning. There is a way, however, to appeal the legislation, but one must wait at least six months to begin the appeal process."

"Family seats." Hermione said in reply. "The defunct seats on the Wizengamot can be re-established. I hadn't thought of it, because so many are defunct, but quite unlike me, I hadn't realized how many defunct seats are defunct, because of extenuating circumstances and deaths, but the lines live on in many that we know."

"Such as?" Percy said, relieved that she had worked that much out without him and the classified files. He wouldn't have to explain everything. Most of what rested between the classified files made him ill.

"Black, Dumbledore, Malfoy, Prince, Potter, Longbottom, and Weasley. Harry was Dumbledore's heir. He has two seats. Draco would have the Malfoy and Prince seats, seeing as he was Professor Snape's heir. Neville would hold one. Sirius, two if we could somehow re-establish the Dagworth line through him. Arthur would hold one."

Ginny asked, "How come Dad has never sat on the Wizengamot, Mum?"

Molly stood from her sitting position. Her body language screamed uncomfortable. Sirius alleviated her discomfort by saying, "Molly, I'll take care of it. Arthur will be established into his seat on Monday morning."

"About that," Percy said. "After the First War, the ministry made it extremely hard to re-establish family seats. Before the First War, all was needed was to prove heritage and pay a hefty sum to establish a seat. But, afterward, to prevent extortion and unfair bias, they limited one wizard to hold one seat after proving heritage, waiting a minimum of six months from application to re-establish to sitting their first Wizengamot, and paying a higher sum than ever before. The only seat that you mentioned that is not defunct is the Malfoy one. The Wizengamot dues occur every ten years. Although, Lucius was not able to use his seat after his incarceration, it is not defunct. I'd say it is either active or inactive."

"It was inactivated shortly after Draco's fifth year." Narcissa revealed. "The Wizengamot did not want me serving on it due to Lucius breaking into the DoM. I was a security risk, they believed."

Ron tried to disguise his chuckle with a cough, but it was clear that he had laughed.

"Okay," Hermione said as she inhaled and exhaled. "So, instead of the eight that I had hoped for, we have five seats more than we did this morning. Yes," She said as she held her hand up to prevent Percy from interrupting her. "I remember you saying that it takes at least six months to reestablish family seats. And, we need to take in consideration the hefty sums that will need to be paid for each seat." She shuddered. "I just hope that I survive, however long it takes to amend the law."

Sirius said firmly, "You'll survive, kitten. I got your back remember?"

Fred and George looked at one another and smiled. George retrieved an envelope from the ministry from the inside pocket of his cloak he had absentmindedly placed on the back of his chair.

"Here, Hermione. This is the post that we received."

Hermione took the missive out, but left what looked to be invitations inside the envelope. She read aloud:

"Misters Weasley of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes and any silent partners,

We, the Ministry, appreciate your patronage and willingness to help the next generation of wizardry by your past and future generous donations. You are, hereby, invited to a private fundraiser for business owners to be held two days from now at precisely 8 in the evening. There will be an enforced formal dress code. If you have any questions on what we deem formal, you may before the event, owl Miss Aver Marnai for clarification. In order to attend the event, you must have your invitation in your possession. At precisely 7:55, your port key invitation will transport you to an unenclosed, private location. The fundraiser will begin with a free five-course meal and open bar before the festivities begin. Please, bring your checkbook or Gringotts Fast Pay Identification. Physical currency is frowned upon during this particular fundraiser due to the amount of funds expected to be raised. Please note that this particular fundraiser is not a plus one event. The invitations cannot be sold, traded, or given away as they are set to the identity of the wizard.

We, the Ministry, would like to thank you once again for the willingness that you have to secure the next generation through your generous donations. Enclosed are five invitations to the business owners of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes.

Thank you,

Assistant Marla T. Lemirov

On behalf of Kingsley Shacklebolt

Minister of Magic for Great Britain."

The group of trusted Order confidantes were silent as they listened. Afterward, they stayed silent. Although, she had long ago realized the ramifications of the amendment, the understanding that she would be bought on Monday much like she had bought Crookshanks years ago hit her firmly in the chest. Although, she couldn't breathe, she did not enter a Magi-Muggle panic attack.

"Why are you smiling, Sirius?" Hermione admonished him with tears in her eyes that had yet to fall. "How are you going to have my back at a fundraiser that you won't be able to attend? That Harry won't be able to attend. Very few business owners are members of the Order. I can handle my own; I can handle a lot, actually; but, I can't take on the Ministry and any remaining Death Eaters, by myself. Kingsley sold me out. He could have stopped this from happening!"

"Love," He said as he stood. He wrapped her in a hug. She began to quietly cry against his chest. "Harry, Remus, and I are silent partners and investors for the joke shop you pretend to dislike. I, also, own businesses through the Toujours Pur Administration. I have no hand in their operation, but I own them." Sirius glanced at his younger cousin as he rolled his eyes. "And, your boyfriend will be there." His tone was strained as if what he said hurt him to admit. The look of confusion on her face as she looked up at him, made him lighten his tone and tighten his grip in their embrace. "He owns more businesses through Malfoy Enterprises than anyone in the room combined. Believe me, kitten, you're not walking out of that fundraiser as a wife to a death eater unless it's to our resident Death Eater Healer."

Although, he said those words, if needed, he would empty out his own Gringotts account, bankrupt every business he owned interest in, and the vast Black Family vault to prevent her from becoming the wife to any Death Eater...any other wizard. Lily had warned him decades ago that he was insanely possessive and territorial; that it would take a special sort of witch to claim his heart. His heart was still firmly his, but he could see himself losing it to the younger woman in his arms. Regardless of what he felt or did not feel about her, he owed her a life debt. He couldn't allow her to fall into a trap that could very well result in her death.

Charlie said somberly, "Thank Merlin, Voldemort didn't know about this existing law. Can you imagine what he could have done buying Muggleborns from the Ministry for 100 galleons each? He could have had his Pureblood followers legally buy and kill them all."

Draco revealed something he had only told two people. "He knew about the law, Charlie. Why do you think Muggleborns were required to register with the Ministry? He died before he could orchestrate the second phase of the Muggleborn Registration. He planned to use me and my father to buy them."

Percy held up one of the files from the stack in front of him on the table. "This file contains the names of each Muggleborn that registered during the Second War." He held up another. "This file contains information on one, Hermione Granger."

Author's Note: Thank you all for reading, adding to alerts and favorites, and reviewing.