Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or The Vampire Diaries (or this story)
Chapter Eighteen
There wasn't any time to spare, their sister had to be warned about what had been tried to be passed for a law. The elections for the minister of magic had been running slowly, everyone was hesitant to show trust and faith in the system that was once so corrupt. The one candidate that the family is hoping to win is Kingsley Shacklebolt, a comrade in arms that had a sense of what was right. They didn't have to worry about him falling into someone's pockets. He's in the lead due to the family openly supporting him. However, there was one candidate that they were absolutely sure needed to be thrown into Azkaban, Perseus Parkinson. The Parkinson family had been allied with the Malfoy family for generations and it was widely known. The only reason that he was not a convicted death eater was that he wasn't deemed worthy enough to be one. Though his blood was pure, his core was weak, abilities near a squib. Pansy was lucky to have been deemed enough magic to enter Hogwarts. The man spouted off nonsense about him being a representative of keeping traditions alive. What was wrong was that he had tried to pass a law stating that it was required for witches and wizards, 16 and older, to be entered into a courtship that promised marriage or a marriage contract. To 'ensure' that there would be enough children to start the next generation and make up for all the lives lost in the last two wars, if a wizard or witch does not already have a spouse then the ministry will try to match them up. The family knew that the law was total bullshit. Thankfully, with Hailey being mated and married the law didn't affect her. But it did come out to the public that their "Chosen One" was wedded and they demanded answers. The family remembered with a scowl what brought them to having to warn their darling lioness.
~Flashback~
The wizarding courtroom was usually a place of law and Order, but the scene unfolding was just plainly a screaming match. Kingsley was on one side with the order behind him along with the majority of the Wizengamot. Behind in parallel to him was a pug-faced man who could be no one else but Perseus Parkinson. Both were in the required, maroon-sanctioned robes of the court. Kingsley was keeping his head and showing a cool and calm face as one would expect with a parent scolding their child. Parkinson was the child, red in the face while making his point heard all over Britain. Behind him were what was remaining of the "dark faction", most were widowers or eldest sons that inherited the titles of the lord of their family through their Death Eater family member. Many of the young on this side were hesitant to be there but had no clue where else to go, they felt they would just be shunned if they turned to the 'light' but if they stayed in the 'dark', they would be playing a losing game.
"Magic must be preserved! There are limited solutions to how we can solve our dwindling population. It must be done every one of magic must marry and conceive to bring along the next generation. We have to make up for all that was lost from the wars!"
"Forcing people to go along with your old ways is no way to solve that! People should have the choice of deciding who they are to marry and not be forced to make such decisions because it is required! We just survived a war for Merlin's sake, you will not force your ideals onto the people of Magical Britain!"
"My beliefs aside there is not much else that can be done to solve the dwindling numbers of our community. Family lines are going to go dead if not done. Magic that comes from witches or wizards like Hailey Potter must be passed on to ensure our future!"
"I advise you to keep our savior out of this! She has done enough for us, and we cannot expect her to do more! Especially to take part in such a farce of law!"
"Who else but she can lead us, who else but her can help make future generations? Her parents were exceptional in power, they got married and produced an heir of the highest caliber! Imagine what children she could produce with the right wizard! That child then can ensure that magic lives on!"
"I'm afraid~", a goblin, Griphook, that represented Gringotts had piped up. Might as well tell the fool why even if the law were to get miraculously passed, there was no chance they would be able to pair off Hailey Potter. "Even If you were to pass that 'law' Miss Potter would not fall into that jurisdiction."
"Make your reason known! Why would she not?!", this can't happen Lucius was willing to overlook all the money that Parkinson owed him if he was able to become Minister or at least get the law passed. If he can't, he could wish his already crumbling estate goodbye. The Parkinsons owe the Malfoys more money than they have in their vaults, if he didn't win the election or get the law passed his family will have to give up their titles and vaults. Even then it wouldn't be enough to cover everything, and the Parkinson family would become magic-bound servants to pay off whatever was left. Griphook sneered at the desperation that the wizard was oozing, hysteria was also making itself known.
"To simply put, Hailey Potter is no longer eligible to become a bride to anyone. She has been bonded and mated for quite a few months now. Strange how you wizards only care for her condition and status when she could be used in your favor.", a string of gasps was let out through the courtroom. Mated?! But mating would imply that their savior had bonded with a creature! Mostly out of surprise from the 'light' side. Though there were a few young lords distressed about losing a chance with Lady Potter.
"How dare you speak such lies! A respectable witch would never stoop so low as to 'mate'-", this was possibly worse than he could imagine. The 'dark' section was so against mating because a mating bond meant that even if one half of the pair was killed, the other half would never want anyone else. They would only ever want their 'mate'. There was no way of conning a respectable witch to marry a proper wizard after killing off her 'mate'. The same as luring back a proper wizard to marry a respectable witch. If the mating case is true, he was so screwed. No, he cannot accept this. He was about to voice as such but was cut off by his competitor.
"TAKE CARE OF HOW YOU SPEAK!! Mating has been an honored ritual for creatures that have for too long been seen as nothing of importance by like-minded individuals such as yourself! In case you are suffering from some sort of obliviating spell, allow me to remind you of how the Dark Lord was able to pull so many 'dark' creatures into his clutches.", Kingsley was often disgusted by how his kind would treat a mating bond. To him you marry/bond/mate to whoever you loved, the dark section believed that marriage was simply a tool to be used to better your family who cares about what feelings happen between the pair as long as an heir can be produced to carry the line. It was also due to the constant fear of what they couldn't understand that made them orchestrate creatures. The creatures there to represent their kind turned from sneering at Parkinson to showing mildly impressed faces towards Kingsley.
"He lured them with power, that's all those foul-", Parkinson did not get to finish as he had to duck a spell shot from the light section. Ginny Weasley had to rub her shoulder as her mother had smacked it but shared a silent high-five with her brothers. It caused Aurors to chuckle and not even attempt to look for the culprit and glare at the ones that tried to step forward to look. Parkinson sent a glare and waved them off. He looked pointedly at Kingsley to get on with it.
"He promised them equality, he promised the creatures that they and their mates would never have to fear of being hunted, separated, or used! Our world did everything to oppress those poor creatures and that's exactly what caused them to go over to him. We constantly talk of hiding from muggles because of how they treated us for being different than them, for having abilities that they did not possess, and because we had different traditions than they did.", how dare this little upstart bring muggles into this and how dare he compare their ancestors' pain to that of some lowly creature!
"THEY BURNED US AT THE STAKE THOSE CREATURES SHOULD BE THANKFUL!!", people were sure that if there weren't wards to prevent outsiders from listening, Diagon Alley would be hearing the screaming match.
"THANKFUL FOR US DOING THE EXACT SAME THING AS TO WHAT THE MUGGLES DID TO US !??!", many gasps occurred again at the revelation.
"WE SHOULD HAVE BANDED TOGETHER TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD BUT INSTEAD WE DID AS THE MUGGLES DID TO US PERHAPS EVEN WORSE. We gave them a glimmer of hope that we could all coexist peacefully after evading the muggles, only for us to stomp on it and give them a stack of laws to limit them. We need to change; we have stayed the same for far too long and if it doesn't, I fear that we will just be repeating the same miserable pattern.", Kingsley looked grim at displaying the truth that the wizarding world couldn't bear to face. Many looked on with fear in their eyes at the prospect of perhaps another Dark Lord coming to rise due to their negligence.
"Be that as it may a creature mating with our savior could have no possible fruitful outcome, tell us Goblin what is the status of the supposed mate of Hailey Potter?", even if she is mated what matters if the young Malfoy provides her an heir, though the heir will not be widely accepted as it will not be made from marriage vows. He just needs to know if the creature is a weak one, but knowing Potter there is no chance that the fates would deem a weakling worthy of her.
" A vampire.", Griphook replied. You could hear a pin drop in the room from how quiet it became and all of a sudden movement came to a large boom.
"VAMPIRE!!!", it was as if the courtroom had spoken as a unit. Yells, whispers, and murmurs were taking up the courtroom. It was becoming too much until Amelia Bones rose with her wand to her neck casting a sonorous spell.
"ORDER, WE WILL HAVE ORDER", it started to quiet down then Amelia asked respectfully to the goblin which did earn her a respected look. "Master Teller, is there anything about the state of Hailey Potter that should be known to this court?", the court did not need to know that Miss Potter had moved to America most likely in alignment with her magic to find her mate, even if unknowingly.
"As it is I have already delivered information that this court has no business of knowing Miss Potter has done enough for this world, how she spends her days is her business.", he said with a slight sneer towards the 'dark' fraction. He had no clue why wizards insisted to label things. Parkinson seemed to have snapped out of his daze and started demanding answers and swaying some to his side.
"HOW ARE WE TO GAIN ANOTHER HERO IF OUR SAVIOR CAN NOT PRODUCE AN HEIR ??!!", some gaped at his audacity to try and use their savior, but a few sheep could not help but murmur agreement. The Weasley boys in attendance had a look of fury on their faces and Ginny looked ready to claw his eyes out. Kingsley went to calm the masses.
"That is not an issue whatsoever-", he was interrupted by one of the neutral lords.
"I am sorry Kingsley, but it does pose a problem. What will become of the Potter and Black titles? Surely Miss Potter will want to hand them down one day? She often spoke of having a family and being with a vampire leaves very little chance of that happening. I even dare say that it's not even allowed.", he had the sense to look bothered by what he was saying but it was true, it was currently against the law to produce a halfling. And those that were produced were mistreated, it was no way to treat the offspring of their hero. Kingsley didn't waste time making a case. Hailey needed the law to be passed, those boys are everything to her.
"Not if we change the laws! Who are we to say that a woman must rid herself of her child just because we fear the unknown? If we banish those laws, we can ensure that Miss Potter has at least one less thing to worry about when concerning making her family. We owe her that much.", the members of the jury looked side to side with each other before Amelia Bones came to stand and with her a piece of parchment to say which laws will be instated. Before she could say anything there was a change that no one was expecting to come from the courtroom that day. Nearly every newly appointed Lord and Ladies had moved from the 'dark' section to the neutral, it seemed Kingsley's words encouraged some change. Widows were looking at the young nobles in betrayal, but they refused to budge, it was time for a change. Their fathers and mothers had paid the price for their ways in no way were they to try and follow the same path.
"We, the Wizengamont, do declare that halflings no longer are a forbidden race so we say it so mote it be. We do declare that laws over all creatures will be reevaluated to ensure tranquility, so we say it so mote it be. We do declare that bonding and mating are on the equivalence of marriage, so we say it so mote it be.", the scene was that of utter tranquility as magic had registered it and let the room give off a faint white glow until Parkinson disrupted it by crashing the courtroom doors open. At that, the order had joined together each silently cheering for the victory. No one had noticed that a beetle had flown out of the courtroom, they wouldn't have a clue until the next morning.
Arthur was eating breakfast with his family and enjoying the chatter going around. The children wanted to head to America to inform Hailey of the wonderful news but as he was drinking his coffee, he read the Prophet. He spurted the contents out to the side and his family looked up at him in surprise and then shock at his next words. "THAT BLOODY SKEETER, JUST WHO THE HELL DOES SHE THINK SHE IS?!!", he said in a rage, it was very rare to see the Weasley Patriarch this upset.
"Arthur!", Molly was about to ask what in merlin was wrong when he turned the paper around for the whole family to see the headline.
" SAVIOUR OFF THE MARKET? ", the men of the family looked at the paper with fury as the women decided to read it despite being engulfed in rage. ' You heard it here my faithful readers it would seem Lady Potter is no longer on the market; it would seem that she was not swept off her feet like any respectable lady, but she had instead eloped and with a creature no less! This just in Lady Potter has been deemed mated to not just any sort of creature, but a dark one! A vampire! What does this entail for the future of the Wizarding World? It would have been deemed that Lady Potter is not allowed to have children with her mate, however, the Wizengmont wouldn't dare go against Lady Potter. Sources say, "I for one think it's blasphemous, a respectable Lady should be wed to a wizard, not some creature!" Others, " Love is love, it does not matter who or what they are as long as both are consensual and hold love for each other there is nothing wrong with the relationship presented, we owe it to Lady Potter to let her live as she wants." The wizarding world will be split but what side is correct, read more to find out!" At the bottom of the page is what also got the family's vision to be tinted with blood, "Read more on Page 4 to know about the scandalous history of Lady Potter with Heir Malfoy", that bloody Skeeter!! Arthur was trembling with rage that it was decided that Percy would be the one to read that section as he was very begrudgingly the only levelheaded one in the room. He read out loud with venom lacing his words, it surprised his family to hear him so upset, but then again this was their honorary sister and daughter.
"Lord Malfoy has recently come out with a statement regarding the ordeal over Lady Potter's new marital status, "It is completely inappropriate as she and my son, Draco, were to be wed in this year's time. They had an official courtship during their last few years at Hogwarts, how else do you explain Draco's willingness to risk his own life to help her? Draco is, of course, refuting to hide his pain over her leaving him for some eternal creature.", does Lord Malfoy speak the truth, this reporter will find out, whatever it takes we shall know the true Lady Potter.", in his head, Percy had come up with at least seven different ways of how to rid the Malfoy family of their lord, how dare that foul upstart to speak such lies about their sister. Anyone with half a brain should know that there is absolutely no chance that Malfoy and Hailey could feel anything than friendship toward each other. And bloody Skeeter! What right does that woman have to display Hailey's business out to the public and try to paint her as some Scarlett woman?! This would not do, they had to move it was due time for a visit, they hadn't seen their family members in nearly two months. Perfect time to kill two birds with the stone, or something along those lines. The family started conversing over the next steps of what to do not knowing that there was an eavesdropping charm that was placed on Arthur by the one and only... Perseus Parkinson.
~End Flashback~
When the family arrived, they were met with growling and surprised yelps before the magicals of the house came down to calm the situation. Apparently, Hailey had decided to house some...hybrids? And they finally got to meet the man that had knocked up their precious Hailey. At this thought passing through the family's head, Stefan felt a chill go up his spine. He looked to his new brothers to see them all grinning in an understanding of what had to be done with Stefan. Hailey had a lot of brothers; it came with the territory to get the shovel talk.
"So... you're Stefan?", Bill had asked once all the men had managed to drag him into a parlor room, pretty easy since Hailey was so excited to see the girls and they all decided to take a quick shopping trip with some coaxing from Fleur and Rebecca it was almost scary. Bill, along with the other Weasley men were intimidating. Along with what he's heard from his wife, they were not people to trifle with, Bill worked with ancient, nearly unhealable curses. Charlie worked with Dragons and had a very large build. Percy reminded him somewhat of Elijah, but he knew while he could be made an ally would likely not hesitate in causing harm. The twins very much reminded him of his new older brother Kol, the manic gleam in their eyes worried him. He was hoping to get some sort of protection from Ron or Remus, but they were leaning on the back wall with their arms crossed, an amused grins plastered on their faces, along with Arthur, the brood's father. He was shocked when Billy got rid of his grim face and placed a smirk on. He put his arm around Stefan's shoulders and led him to the one couch in the room. "Listen, mate, I have a creature beloved as well. I know that you would never EVER try to hurt Hailey willingly. Right?", the rest of the brood followed Bill's example of leaving their tense stances.
"I would rather scarf down vervain in sunlight than ever try to hurt Hailey.", Stefan stated in a no-nonsense kind of tone. The family looked pleased with his answer. They knew that a creature bond was sacred and that giving a shovel talk to Stefan would be disrespectful, especially as he was a vampire.
"And we know that, listen Hailey is the most wonderful girl we know. And we are not the only ones to notice this. What we want you to understand is that where we're from she is highly sought after not only for her looks but also for her high standing, we need to know if you are willing to do whatever it takes to keep her happy with you. She would do the same. Even if it means some blood on your hands.", Stefan felt his vampire rage over his mate being lusted after and wanted to shred anybody who dared to want to use her.
"I am hers just as she is mine, anybody that tries to take her will know that. I have no regrets in having to get my hands dirty over someone who dared to try and do so.", he was barely keeping the growling and hissing from his voice. He was met with warm smiles, the brood parted away as their Father came to shake Stefan's hand.
"Welcome to the family, son.", a golden glow emitted from their hands similar to what he remembered happened when Hailey and Klaus made those vows. He felt warm and oddly giddy. His brothers had busted in, and he was surprised to see Elijah and Finn holding his sons who were fussing and trying to squirm toward him, despite being two months old and told that they would age like normal kids he still felt his boys were growing too fast.
"My look how big they've gotten! I can see Hailey here and there, especially in Cedar. But Caelan definitely takes after his father.", Stefan went to his brothers as the panicked look on their faces was growing. He took the boys, and they stopped fussing. They must have just wanted him as their mommy had been taken hostage by her sisters. Stefan looked around to notice that the family was looking at him handle the boys. They all looked mildly proud and silently awed at the adorable picture Stefan made. Some of the Hybrids had decided to peek in and Stefan gave them a small smile. Stefan took in how much his family has grown, for so long he had felt so lonely. His only family hated him and there was no way for him to create his own. Since Hailey, he has never felt so complete. Every time he thinks of how she had unknowingly brought peace to his life he fills with warmth. She and he had certainly created a large family.
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Unfortunately, unwanted forces were brewing. Parkinson had been able to get a lock in where the Weasleys had portkeyed. He was not going to leave this foul country until Potter became wed to Draco! He had brought Lucius along to assure it. Lucius, as a lord had forced Draco to stay locked in Malfoy Manor to stop him from interfering, the brat should be thankful for their dedication to providing him with a worthy bride. Narcissa while reluctant, stayed to watch Draco to ensure he wouldn't try to pull anything. Potter should be thankful that a pureblooded family was willing to take her in despite her foul half-blood status. Her father was a sore point to many of the wizards in their faction, he was a highly sought-after pureblood. Even Parkinson's wife had sent him a marriage contract only for her and others as well to take a hit in their pride when he decided to court a mudblood. The memories this brought were certainly taking hits to his pride. All they needed to do was lay low and perhaps imperious Potter to leave that creature for a proper wizard, such as Draco. They were discussing what exactly they should do when they were approached by some muggle, how she noticed them is unknown as they had placed 'Notice Me Not' spells. She had pale skin and hair that made Parkinson believe that she would have done well in impersonating a Malfoy.
"I believe gentleman that we both have a similar goal. I cannot do my noble work with the witch you want here, and you wish to take her away, shall we talk more in private?", she piqued their interest. Esther smiled sinisterly, as soon as that freak of nature left, she would be free to carry out as nature intended.
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They were not the only unwanted visitors, but another made herself known. Stefan decided that the boys should get a little outing and it was always amusing to see how people reacted to his usual cool facade brother's break face when his sons decided to look at them. He was enjoying his time at the park with everyone, Hailey had texted him saying that they would head over as soon as possible, and Rebekka had gotten the boys some clothes that she wanted to do a miniature photoshoot since they were at the park. His brothers went to go pick up the girls and they headed towards a very open field park. He chuckled and looked over to his brother in laws having tummy time with the boys on a wool blanket that they brought. When he suddenly felt arms wrapped around his neck, he didn't smell Hailey or even hear her yet, he thrust himself away from the offending appendages to see Elena looking at him with an amused surprised look on her face. But it soon turned to confusion as Stefan glared at her and decided to walk away from her and more towards his family. She grabbed his wrist and was soon pushed away, "I think I've told you before Elena, stop acting like we're together and just stay away from me!". Soon her doe-like expression turned to a very familiar one, a smirk that only screamed bad intentions. He sighed in annoyance, "Katherine.", she just fluttered her eyes as she looked over at him with appreciating gazes. He felt creeped out but Katherine either didn't care or didn't notice.
"Finally ditched my good girl self, Stefan?", she said as she tried to interlock their arms but was once again pushed off, she looked at Stefan with a pout. He sighed and looked over to his in-laws who were looking on and noticed his uncomfortable stance. Ron pulled out his phone and silently shot a text to his sisters. He had been told stories about this woman; it was people like her that made his mother equally protective of her sons as she was of her daughters. Women who knew better but still decide to seduce (take advantage) a younger man and use him, despite him being naive and young. Katherine Pierce was that and so much worse as she was a vampire and controlled Stefan, who at the time was still fairly young. He and his brothers looked at each other and knew this could get messy so they put a few wards to drive the muggles away from the park along with a few silent wards to not draw attention. Katherine was too busy eating Stefan with her eyes to notice the humans leaving the park.
"I did and I'm already taken. I'm making sure to stay away from manipulative doppelgangers.", Katherine looked at Stefan with a longing look, but she pushed it down she needed him to spare some information about the Originals, last she heard from one of her hybrid spies (they gave her information to lure her back) they were in New Orleans. But it would be nice if Stefan wanted a little reward for such valuable information, he certainly had gotten more attractive. He bulked up quite a bit and had a new mature aura around him, but she couldn't help but notice something was off, but she brushed it off. What could he have done that she hadn't already seen?
"I'm not here to fight I just want to talk...but if you want, we could do a little something after.", she said in what was supposed to sound like a sultry voice but to Stefan, it was like nails against a chalkboard. She made another move to try and lean on him when she was suddenly pinned down to the ground. Stefan had gotten tired of her advances and his in-laws were moving to come help, hopefully, they got something strong enough to tie up a vampire. Katherine was surprised that Stefan was able to keep her pinned down despite being older than him. She then felt a searing pain, she looked up to see some redhead pointing a stick at her, and a rope was coming out of it, every time she tried to break it, it would just get tighter and tighter. She heard a car approaching and was ready to turn on the waterworks and scream only to be petrified at who came out. She saw the entire family of Originals leave the vehicle. Then she noticed HER. A girl that had a beauty so unearthly that screamed she wasn't human, Katherine felt fury and jealousy grip her heart as the black-haired beauty ran to HER Stefan and started coddling him, she felt despair as she noticed Stefan melt in her touch with some rugrats with him. What the hell was going on?!
Niklaus looked down at Katherine as his brothers took hold of her, he looked to Stefan who was holding Hailey close to him along with the boys. Katerina had much to answer for, escaping him was already punishable by death. But to have used her powers to take advantage of his then-human brother was disgusting. He felt immense anger as she was throwing glares at his sister-in-law, they already had to deal with Elena. She was only safe because she was useful, but Katherine was of absolutely no use and therefore totally disposable. He and his brothers took satisfaction as Katerina finally had a look of horror done her face. His hybrids did good work acting as double agents. He gripped her face painfully and spoke with his voice laced with venom, "Hello Katerina, we have a lot to catch up on."
