Chapter 23

Following her graduation, Hermione embarked the Hogwarts Express for the last time, her godmother not being able to see the castle she had felt lonely at graduation and was now antsy to see her father.

Once she had stepped off the floo at Riddle Manor, the party was fully on. Tom, Sirius, Remus, Severus, Harry and Percy were all there to celebrate her early graduation and ground-breaking NEWTs scores. Alongside was Bill and Charlie Weasley who had been slowly coming on-board since coming back to Britain and were now fully Knights with Percy. None of the Weasley brothers had talked to their parents in months, Percy had been self-exiled from the family two years ago and neither Bill nor Charlie had told their parents they were back.

As the party died down, Percy took Hermione outside.

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise" Percy smirked in response and suddenly apparated them away.

They appeared in front of a cosy looking home in the middle of the woods, but Hermione could hear a stream nearby. He offered her his arm, and welcomed her inside, together they toured the home. It had a cosy and rustic feel, the ground floor was composed of a floo room, a open-plan kitchen in dark woods, a living room with a specific corner marked off for muggle electronic appliances such as a TV, a guest bedroom, a room for a library as the empty shelfs would indicate, a small bathroom, and there was also a room leading to a basement for a potential potion lab. The first floor had the master bedroom with a wall-sized window looking into the woods and nearby stream, an ensuite bathroom with a clawfoot tub and another guest bedroom.

"Your father found this home hidden in the Gaunt family holdings, it wasn't much initially but I've been able to restore the bases and build it up. We often talked about what we would like our home to be, so I thought I'd surprise you with it, we can move in immediately, you can change anything you want of course."

"I love it! I'd love to move in as soon as we're able." Hermione said with a beaming smile.

Percy took her hand and led her outside to their garden and private patch of the forest, there was small blueball flames floating around to light the area.

"Hermione, I have been intrigued and fascinated by you since we met at Hogwarts and were able to spend time together talking at the Burrow. The day I arrived at the Manor and found you there was one of the happiest of my life.

When we started courting, we knew I would be able to propose one year in, which has passed us by, but I felt strongly we should wait for your graduation and being able to live together.

I won't wait a second longer." At this, Percy sinked to the floor on one knee, "Hermione Jean Riddle, will you make this day the happiest of my life and marry me?"

"YES!"

The engagement announcement went out the next day, the majority of the public having followed the Dumbledore, then Riddle saga with the Daily Prophet was ecstatic for the match. Some people had reservation due to the Weasley's family reputation of being ardent Dumbledore's followers, which they still were to this day, declaring the persecution of their idol an unjust travesty full of lies, a plea they were alone in making. However, those who were weary of Percy's last name also know he had publicly declared himself estranged from his family over two years ago.

Percy was extremely happy, Hermione had agreed to marry him and they had moved into the forest home the last few days. He was at the ministry, still working for Minister Fudge and biding his time until the Minister was ousted in favour of Tom Riddle. He was reading a report from the DMLE when his door was harshly opened without so much as a knock, but was not that surprised to see his father entering his office with a scowl on his face.

Arthur Weasley had been able to stop his wife from storming the ministry, he wasn't sure what her exact plan was but he was certain it would not have ended well. She had agreed on the condition Arthur himself tried to talk some sense into their estranged son.

"Dad, what can I do for you?"

"Son... Your mother and I saw the engagement announcement. We understand we are at odds since you refused to acknowledge You-know-you was back, but you need to break this engagement! This girl is the spawn of the devil, this Tom Riddle would have you believe Albus was a monster! Albus was a great man and you need to come to your senses and back to your family."

Percy was tensed with a rigid posture but he has been expecting this sort of reaction so wasn't fazed much, "I'm sorry dad, truly. Voldemort is dead, he died with Dumbledore. Tom is a great man I have been fortunate to become close to and Hermione is the light of my life. I am not giving up her."

Arthur nodded, he expected he wouldn't be able to change Percy's mind but he didn't want to resort to this either, he felt he had no choice, "If you don't, your mother and I agreed I would renounce you from the Weasley family son."

"Then do it and save us both the time with futile arguments, you have known Hermione since she was 12 years old, you view of Dumbledore is completely warped and in case you hadn't noticed you and mum are the only ones still fighting in his name."

Arthur took a step back, struck by his word and the truth he could detect in them, but stayed the course, he had made a promise, no matter how heart-breaking it was, he took a breath and started chanting:

"In Nomine Magicae Anticae, Ego, Arhur Septimus Weasley, Filum meum, Percy Ignatus Weasley, hanc horam denuntio.

Olim fortis et fidelis, nunc proditor, Tu, Percy Ignatus Weasley, ex hoc momento, non es amplius meus filius.

Magia antiqua, testis esto huius renuntiationis, Ut eius nomen in tabulis familiae evanescat, et memoria eius inter nos pereat.

Quod ego iuravi, factum sit.

In aeternum, nullus filius mihi eris."

Arthur shuddered and felt very light-headed but carried on to end, Percy had stayed silent and still.

"I am sorry. I hope one day you can come back to us, and understand why we had to cast you out."

"Oh I understand Mr. Weasley and thank you from casting me out of this family, I hope you're ready to do the same to the majority of your other children and haven't been harbouring the delusion I was the only traitor as you say.

Besides, the chant you've used can't be changed back, so there's no coming back or understanding to be ever had.

Please leave my office now, Mr. Weasley."

Arthur left in silence, understanding too late he had likely made the biggest error of his life.

That night, Percy, Hermione and Tom were having a drink in the Forest home living room.

"Does it mean you're now called Percy No-Name?" Hermione asked once Percy had finished explaining what had happened at his office earlier that day.

Percy simply nodded and remained silent for a while, "I'm sorry Hermione, I had wished to be able to give you the Weasley name when we marry. Despite my former parents' despicable attitude, the name has been around for centuries and means a lot more than this one generation of simple-minded fools."

"Hermione is entitled to the Gaunt name, since I took the family seat in the Wizengamot everyone calls me Lord Gaunt, and I imagine the Riddle name will disappear almost completely overtime. Maybe Hermione can take the Gaunt name before your wedding as an homage to our ancestors, as insane as they were, or most likely to help in the effort to establish a new image of the Gaunt name away from blood supremacy and crucioing your children, and you can take her name when you marry." Tom proposed.

Percy and Hermione held a silent conversation and both nodded, "That's a good idea."

Tom smiled widely at their agreement, "That way, the name will live on again and we can turn around the dark image it has."

A few months later, in late October, the wedding took place in the garden of the now dubbed Forest home of Percy and Hermione.

Tom Riddle walked his daughter down the aisle to her fiancé, the binding was performed by Remus Lupin and was quick and elegant:

"Amor aeternus sit vobis,

Concordia et pax inter vos.

Sicut luna et sol,

Semper simul eritis."

At this, Percy and Hermione were bathed in a blinding golden light and the guests cheered the new union.

"May I present Percy and Hermione Gaunt!" Remus announced once everyone had calmed down.

The translation for the Latin chant of Arthur Weasley:

"In the Name of Ancient Magic, I, Athur Septimus Weasley, renounce my son, Percy Ignatus Weasley, at this hour.

Once strong and faithful, now a traitor, You, Percy Ignatus Weasley, from this moment, are no longer my son.

Ancient magic, be witness to this renunciation, Let his name vanish from the family records, and his memory among us perish.

What I have sworn, let it be done.

Forevermore, you will be no son of mine."

The translation for the Latin binding said by Remus Lupin:

"May eternal love be yours,

Harmony and peace between you.

Like the moon and sun,

You will always be together."

I spent 6 years learning Latin but as that was over a decade ago, I'm not sure the Latin is accurate, so apologies.

Also, one chapter and the epilogue left!

Thank you to the reviews! Especially decadenceofmysoul, your continued support for my first ever fic is a blessing.

I've published a short fic yesterday (No Lies, Hermione x Remus, time travel), so I'm thinking of what to do next, let me know if you have suggestions.