Ch 8 Getting Narcissa Involved
Monday after the normal Monday morning DMLE meeting Harry headed to Hogwarts. Minerva McGonagall told Harry, "We had better talk to the Matrons."
The two headed to the infirmary, and sat down with both Matrons.
"How many pregnant witches do we have?" Harry wondered.
"As of right now we know of fifteen seventh year and younger," Genevieve replied. "Thirteen of them are pregnant by the wizard they would like to marry. One is pregnant by another wizard, a total accident. She and her boyfriend are, I understand, going to marry, if possible over Christmas, and then raise her baby as if he is the father. Legally and even magically that works.
"There are three more among the older students, eight year and beyond. Two of the three are very upset, but with the older students it is not as unexpected."
"How come they were all fertile at the same time?" Minerva wondered.
"Something happened last year to cause many of the witches to have their periods at the same time," Genevieve replied. "I thought it was very strange then, but we could not find any reason for it. This spell, curse, whatever it was, has obviously been planned for a long time. It is sure not normal.
"We have one witch that has no desire to marry, and maybe not even to raise a child, but is not ready to abort the baby either. That is, I guess, good. We really do discourage aborting a magical baby."
"What will happen to the baby?" Harry wondered.
"Magical infants are often easy to give up for adoption," Genevieve responded. "They do not become available very often. That the baby was born out of wedlock may be a problem for the child, however. The British magical community can be very narrow minded, and the child may end up being adopted somewhere where they don't care as much about such things."
"No abortions?" Harry wondered.
"None that I will admit to," Genevieve replied. "Don't ask."
The Matrons did not want to give Harry or Minerva too much information on who was pregnant, citing patient confidentially."
When they left the infirmary Harry told Minerva, "I would like to see Albus, Cleo, Scorpius and Rose at lunch."
"I will have them go to the small room next to the Great Hall we often use for meetings or private meals," Minerva replied. Since it was just before lunch, she wrote a quick note on a parchment, duplicated it four times, and turned it into four paper airplanes.
Harry entered the little room next to the Great Hall when the only students in the room were there early, not having class. A short time later the Albus, Cleo, Rose and Scorpius entered the little room, along with Frerin and Dis. The seven sat down and lunch appeared on the table.
"Scorpius," Harry started, turning to the young Magi, "Have you been able to become acquainted with your namesake? Could you ask him some questions?"
"We are acquainted, and I do talk to him occasionally," Scorpius replied. "Usually I need to be alone to talk to him; he doesn't like Albus. Well, he doesn't like anybody, really, but he doesn't like me less than most people. He REALLY doesn't like my grandfather Lucius, so we have that in common."
"One of the ghosts saw a couple have intercourse under the spells three Saturday's ago, and I wonder if your namesake Scorpius did as well," Harry explained. "See what you can find out, please."
"Yes, sir!" Scorpius exclaimed. "Have you talked to my grandmother yet?"
"I will be seeing her this afternoon," Harry replied. "We are just starting to work on this crazy plan."
"Cleo and I are spending more time together, and Rose and Albus are," Scorpius explained. "It is not easy changing how we relate, but I think it is necessary."
"It is awkward, but I think that is the point," Albus added.
"I'm not taking off my ring," Cleo interjected, looking at the still glowing ring on her hand. "I did have to explain to a couple of witches that Albus gave it to me, and I'm not taking it off. Professor Ollivander has asked me about it, and she makes me nervous when she does, but I didn't tell her anything."
"I'm not totally sure about Professor Ollivander, either," Albus confirmed. "She really grilled me about the rings, but I didn't tell her anything about them except they were a gift to me, and I gave the one to Cleo and am not asking for it back."
Harry had talked to Minerva often over the years about Professor Ollivander. He worried about her being obsessive over Albus and Cleo. The problem was that Ollivander had a tendency to obsess over other unusual displays of magic as well. It still worried him, so Harry made a mental note to talk to Minerva about Ollivander's obsession…again.
Monday afternoon Minerva send another paper airplane to all the witches who were sixteen or older October first.
October first some spell seems to have been cast over the castle. The Aurors are trying to find out what happened but have not had much success. What we do know is that a number of witches have become pregnant because of that spell. I want to stress a few things. First, who is pregnant is confidential. The person or couple must make their own decision on when to tell people. Second, it is not their fault. None of the couples can remember, and we are almost sure that it was the spell or curse that caused it. And third, that Hogwarts will make any changes we need to so we can accommodate couples who, because of what happened, marry early. We may have babies with us among some of the current sixth year students next year, and we will find a way to take care of them.
This information is confidential; please do not share it until we have had more time to digest it. And, if you are one of the pregnant witches, please feel free to talk to me, to Professor Cinnamon Appleleaf, or to one of the matrons.
Professor Minerva McGonagall
"I need to speak with Narcissa, Mum," Harry told Molly on the magical/muggle mobile.
"I will invite her to tea this afternoon," Molly replied. About half an hour later Harry received a call telling him that Narcissa was at the New Burrow.
Harry asked Hermione to come along, and together they went to the New Burrow.
"Good afternoon, Harry, Hermione," Narcissa greeted them. "Any news on who tried to capture Scorpius and Cleo?"
"No, but there are other major developments," Harry replied. "Let us go into the living room, and sit down. I am calling Teddy as well."
Once Narcissa, Molly, Harry, Hermione and Teddy were seated, Harry started. "October first something happened at Hogwarts. For about half an hour everybody fell asleep. During that time, from what we can tell, all the witches who were touching a wizard, who were both over sixteen, became pregnant. We think the thing that triggered the spell was Scorpius holding on to, touching, Cleo."
"Cleo is pregnant by Scorpius?" a horrified Narcissa wondered.
"No," Harry replied, "but we are almost sure that is what was supposed to happen. Albus and Cleopatra have what they call 'soulmate rings,' and when the rings sensed what was going to happen they, well, we could only see what we think happened, but it seems that they were all four able to hold hands, and then Albus and Cleo separated, and Scorpius and Rose separated. We are almost sure that is NOT what was planned. We have other reasons to think that what was planned is for Cleo to become pregnant by Scorpius, and that Jezebel and her allies think that happened."
"So what did happen, Harry?" Narcissa pressed.
"Cleo is pregnant with Albus's baby, and Rose with Scorpius's," Harry told her.
"So Scorpius marries Rose, and Albus marries Cleo, and Jezebel can go to Hades," Narcissa suggested.
"It is at least awkward if a witch doesn't marry the father of her baby," Hermione observed. "From what I understand of Malfoy family customs and more, not marrying the witch mother of your baby is more than awkward. It could cause you to be disinherited.
"The other problem is that the child could be considered illegitimate. It is not clear, in the old laws, if the child could go to Hogwarts or any of the schools of the Magi, or be allowed to possess a wand. Those rules are usually waived, but if the parents insist, it could get very tough for the child."
Narcissa wondered. "At one time I think that the laws could force a witch and wizard to marry if she was pregnant with his baby, and the families demanded it. I don't remember anything quite like that happening in my lifetime, though. Well, maybe. There were a couple of marriages that … they wouldn't talk about why, so maybe."
"The law that families could invoke to force that is a very old one," Hermione replied. "In many of the more modern countries it has been formally revoked, and even where it isn't it is seldom enforced. I cannot find that it has ever formally been revoked in England, however."
"So just what would have to happen for the law to be invoked?" Narcissa wondered.
"Both sets of parents have to insist," Hermione replied.
Narcissa frowned. "I can see Draco and Astoria insisting."
Hermione brought out a parchment. "This formal betrothal contract needs to be signed by both parents."
Teddy volunteered, "I don't see Cleo's parents signing one of those. Not freely."
"What could Jezebel do to force them to sign one?" Harry wondered.
"Yea, I can see Jezebel making it very difficult for them not to sign one," Teddy agreed.
"We cannot make them sign these and then break the betrothals," Hermione insisted.
"Can you get Draco and Astoria to sign a blank contract?" Harry wondered.
"So it can be filled in by you and Rose's father?" Narcissa asked Hermione.
Teddy volunteered, "If you could get Cleo's parents alone with you, Narcissa, with a contract for Albus that Harry and Ginny had signed, then I think they would sign. That might work. It just would be very risky."
"What about this isn't risky?" Harry wondered. "Have two betrothal contracts, one with Albus and Cleo, another with Rose and Scorpius, and then copy part of each? I know with Muggle technology you could merge the contracts, give them paper copies. The contracts are not valid on paper, just parchment.
"The four suggest that if we pretend that Scorpius is the father of Cleo's baby, that we may be able to get Jezebel to come to Malfoy Manor for Cleo's wedding."
"I doubt it, but if she does come?" Narcissa wondered.
"Albus and Cleo battle her, but on familiar ground and not at a time and place of her choosing," Harry suggested.
Narcissa looked at Harry like he was crazy. "Just how risky is this plan?" she wondered.
"At least as risky as three teen-agers trying to take down Tom Riddle," Harry replied. "Jezebel cuts the beating heart out of someone, usually but not always a captive, almost every day, sacrifices them to …" Harry looked at Teddy.
Teddy pondered a moment. "I would say she sacrifices them to a pagan god, but if you are Christian, or Jewish or Muslim for that matter, I think it is clear that she is sacrificing them to the devil himself."
"And we can do this without anyone getting hurt or killed?" Narcissa asked.
"I doubt it," Harry replied, looking quite tortured. "I feel like a general planning a battle, knowing that some of the solders are going to lose their lives. From as evil as Jezebel is, and from all the prophesies, I think we have to do this, but I have no illusions that it will come without causalities. Dumbledore said 'do what is right, not what is easy.' I feel we are trying to do what is right, but I have no illusions that it will be easy."
"I will see if I can get Draco and Astoria to sign a betrothal contract for Scorpius, without the name of the other party on it," Narcissa agreed.
Hermione handed a betrothal contract to Narcissa. She and Molly left for the kitchen and the Floo in the New Burrow.
"The moment Albus and Cleo see Jezebel they need to try and kill her," Teddy told Harry and Hermione. "It makes a good story for the protagonists to talk before the final battle, but Jezebel kills first, without remorse. They both need to be prepared to fight to the death."
"I will make sure they know that," Harry responded.
As dinner was ending at Malfoy Manor Narcissa told Draco and Astoria, "I need to see both of you in my office concerning Scorpius and Cleopatra."
"Is she having his baby," Draco wondered.
"I need to talk to the two of you about that, in private," Narcissa insisted.
Once in her private office Narcissa sat down and started, "Cleopatra is pregnant with Scorpius's baby. Rose is also pregnant. Scorpius wants to marry Rose, and Albus Cleo. All they need is our permission."
"We can force Scorpius to marry Cleopatra, if she is pregnant with his baby," Draco insisted. "I've read the old laws, and they don't have any choice. Neither is seventeen, not that it matters, and if they don't want the baby to be illegitimate and them to be outcasts they have to marry."
"You wouldn't force them to marry, would you?" Narcissa asked in horror, wondering if she knew her son at all.
"Father has been working on this well before he was unjustly sent to prison for life!" Draco snarled. "Of course I intent to force them!"
"I have a betrothal contract here, for both you and Astoria to sign," Narcissa revealed. "If you sign it for Scorpius, I will try to have Cleo's parents sign it. I don't like this at all, but the law is on your side, unfortunately."
Draco and Astoria both signed the betrothal contract. Narcissa put it in her robe, not feeling the least bit sorry for deceiving her son.
Hermione drew up a betrothal contract for Albus, and Harry and Ginny signed it. When she was at Molly's Narcissa picked up the contract for Albus and Cleo, and delivered the one signed by Draco and Astoria for Scorpius. Hermione and Ron signed the betrothal contract for Rose and Scorpius.
Cleo's parents appeared suddenly a couple of days later, coming through the Floo with four other Magi. The other four had their wands drawn.
"We are here to sign the betrothal contract," Orwant Smith told Narcissa.
"Not under duress," Narcissa insisted. "I have it, but will only let you sign it in my private office. I have talked to Cleopatra and Scorpius, and they insist that I talk to you privately first."
"We can force you to give us the contract," one of the wizards insisted.
"You dare threaten me in my own home! If you do it is charmed to dissolve," Narcissa snapped, her eyes narrowing. "You do anything but let me talk to Ann and Orwant in my office and this whole wedding is called off. I'm not much in favor of it anyway."
She snapped her fingers. One of the Elves of the household appeared and removed the wizard who dared threaten a Malfoy.
Narcissa swept into her office, and Ann and Orwant followed.
"We really don't want to do this," Ann told Narcissa.
Narcissa pulled out the formal betrothal contract between Albus Severus Potter and Cleopatra Desiree Smith. She grinned and pointed to Albus's name.
"What kind of game are you playing?" Orwant wondered, pointing out Albus's name on the contract.
"A very dangerous one," Narcissa replied. "Albus and Cleo, Rose and Scorpius, want Jezebel to come to Malfoy Manor for the wedding, or they swear they, Cleo and Scorpius, will not wed. It is your job to get her here."
"Do you have any idea how dangerous that would be?" Ann asked.
"Harry Potter says people are going to die," Narcissa grimly replied. "All the prophesies, everything he is working on, says that this is probably the best chance we have to defeat Jezebel, but it is terrifyingly risky."
"I've watched her cut the heart out of two of my infant boys," a cold and determined Ann snarled. "I'd die to get rid of that evil person."
Cleo's parents signed the betrothal document.
Once out of the office Narcissa told Ann and Orwant, "I will have copies of this made and send it to you."
One of the wizards objected, but Narcissa approached him with her wand drawn, looking way too much like Bellatrix on the warpath, and he hastily backed away.
As soon as the five Magi were gone, and before Draco or Astoria could say anything, Narcissa took the Floo to the New Burrow.
Molly called Hermione, and a short time later Hermione was over to pick up the betrothal contract.
The next day Narcissa picked up a paper copy showing that Scorpius and Cleopatra were betrothed. He gave it to Draco, telling him, "You seem to be able to get information to Jezebel. Here."
"It is not on parchment, only paper," Draco objected.
"Parchment is too expensive to be used for document copies," Narcissa responded. "This is what you will get. I don't care if this perverted plan of yours and your father fails. Or you can go over to the Ministry and fight Hermione over it. She is not exactly your friend."
Draco sulked away.
2022