ceredwensirius (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ceredwensirius) wrote2008-04-13 01:54 pm
ceredwensirius) wrote2008-04-13 01:54 pm
Entry tags:
Innocence Chapter 41
Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter or any of the characters, I just like to play with them
Power
On the return trip home Hermione and Sirius made a stop to see her mother’s aunt in Texas, spending a couple of days with her. Aunt Elizabeth was delighted to see Hermione, whom she hadn’t laid eyes on in about five years. The aunt flirted shamelessly with Sirius, going so far as to pat him on the bottom, giving his taut, firm bum a healthy squeeze right in front of Hermione, teasing her about how she’d gotten herself a real stud. She had warned him about the aunt, who was five years younger than Hermione’s grandmother, the aunt’s sister, but had no idea she would go so far. Sirius just laughed it off and flirted right back with the much older woman. The two got along famously, often teasing Hermione together, who finally realized she just needed to relax. When it came time to return home sincere offers of hospitality were exchanged. Hermione and Sirius hoped she would one day come to visit them.
When the newlyweds came roaring back to England they were refreshed and replenished from their trip but also glad to be home. With the wedding and honeymoon behind them they would need to begin planning the nursery and generally preparing for their bundle of joy.
Sirius landed the bike on a lonely road, close to the coast where no muggles would get the shock of their life. Hermione was completely at ease now, her fear of riding the bike a distant memory. She chatted to him about what she would like to do with the nursery and how she was really quite nervous about her upcoming meeting with the Daughter’s. She would only have a day to recoup from their journey and was plagued with serious misgivings about whether she would manage to get the necessary votes. The wedding and honeymoon had pushed these thoughts to the back of her mind but were now stealing their way to the fore with force. Sirius mostly listened to the pleasing sound of her speech, only catching about half of what she was saying as her voice was dwarfed by the rumbling of the engine. He added the necessary ‘oh, really’ and ‘uh, huh’ to keep himself engaged in her conversation and to encourage her to continue.
When they turned onto Eternal Springs Drive and eagerly took in the view of their beckoning home they immediately noticed something rather odd. Their house was covered in owls, what looked to be at least twenty and judging from the droppings they had been there awhile. Sirius parked the bike in the driveway and let Hermione dismount before getting off of it himself and placing the anti theft charm. They exchanged significant looks as they each mentally tried to count the large number of birds.
“Wonder what’s been going on,” said Hermione, worried that this much news couldn’t possibly be good.
Sirius shook his head and shrugged his shoulders in response to her as they took the post from the owls, despite the odd looks from the neighbors.
They entered their home, sitting themselves comfortably in the living room and began opening the mail. Sirius flipped through his stack impatiently, looking for Remus’ neat handwriting, figuring if something was wrong his friend would have left word. He was right about Remus and opened the scroll, his eyes scanning from side to side as he read, his mouth slowly opening wider and wider in complete shock.
“Mum hopes we had a nice honeymoon,” said Hermione absently, without looking up.
“Merlin’s saggy balls, the ministry was nearly overrun while we were gone.” He looked up at her for a reaction.
“What?” Hermione was certain she must have heard him wrong.
“Yeah!” Sirius got up and walked over to the fireplace. He gestured with the letter in hand. “That’s what Mooney says!” Sirius grabbed a handful of floo powder and tossed it into the fireplace. He shouted into the green flames, “Hey Moon!”
Hermione peered curiously over the couch, her eyes darting between the fireplace and Sirius, hoping that this was some sort of a joke. After a minute Remus’ face poked up out of the green embers.
“Thank god you two are home! I’ll just grab Dora and we’ll come over. Oh, and you might want to floo Molly as well.” Without any explanation for what was in the letter or for his tone of urgency he was gone.
Sirius looked back at Hermione in mild alarm and stunned amusement. “What the hell was that all about?” Still in shock he felt the barest tickle of fear crawl along his spine.
Hermione looked even more shocked than he did. “Better floo Molly,” she reminded.
“Oh, right.” He tossed in some more floo powder, this time getting on his knees and bending down into the flames, placing his head in the green fire.
Hermione couldn’t hear what he was saying and was left to wonder. While he was bent over she couldn’t help but admire the way the tight leather pants hugged his firm arse. She decided to forgive Aunt Elizabeth her little transgression, he really was quite irresistible.
Sirius pulled his head out of the fire and got to his feet. “Arthur and Molly are on their way over.” His lips curved down in a puzzled frown, his brow furrowed in concentration. He finally released a defeated sigh and joined his wife on the couch, picking up the stack of letters before he sat.
Hermione laughed softly in mild disbelief. “Do you know a Gertrude Hecklemeyer?”
Sirius looked up from his letter, pausing in momentary thoughtful contemplation before answering. “No, why?”
“Well, she has sent a cursed letter to the Minister of Magic for what he did to us.” Hermione wore a wry grin.
“What did Kingsley do to us?” Sirius asked his question slowly, as though he should have the answer but didn’t.
“Not a clue.” Hermione cocked her head to the side in frank befuddlement.
They were each working on a piece of mail when Remus and Tonks stepped through the fireplace. Tonks rushed into the living room, glaring at each of them but seemed unable to say what was on her mind. She paced in front of Hermione and Sirius, giving little huffs and looking at Remus. Her hair had gone a little spikier than normal and the pink was straying into red. Seeming to come to a decision she cast a defiant look at Remus before stepping up to the bewildered couple on the couch.
“Do you have any idea-” Harshly and then pulled up short.
“What I have been through because of-” Bordering on hysterics and then swallowing her thought.
“Dora, they couldn’t have known.” Calm, placating, trying to reason with her about a topic as yet to be disclosed.
“Nymphadora, will you just spit it out?” Sirius barely held back the laugh over her behavior.
The sound of an activated floo caught their attention, they turned as one to see Arthur and Molly Weasley step into the family room.
“Hello, dears,” said Molly, genuine in her greeting with a sharp look at her husband, who was looking rather grim. “Did you have a nice holiday?”
“Lovely, actually,” replied Hermione with a smile.
“Well, isn’t that bloody fantastic? They had a lovely time!” Tonks nearly spat, her tone derisive.
Sirius stood up. “Enough of this! If I’m going to be attacked in my own home I’d like to know why!”
“Did either of you get a chance to read the article that Rita Skeeter wrote about you, the one on the interview you did with her? It ran the week before your wedding.” Arthur’s tone was tight and controlled.
“Too busy that week,” answered Sirius.
“No, but I heard about it from Ron. He also told me about the reaction at the ministry from the Braithwaite interview. Why? Does whatever this is have something to do with that?” Hermione began to turn the two interviews over in her mind, considering Harry’s words about the possible public reaction.
“It took about a week to really gain momentum, and yes, both articles actually, have everything to do with this.” Ever calm, ever controlled, Remus shed a little light on the situation.
“And what exactly is…this?” Sirius gestured to everyone, indicating that they should sit and politely discuss rather than fight.
“The Society for Distressed Witches got wind of Rita’s article and focused on the fact that a seventeen year old virgin had to have sex with a man twice her age to avoid Azkaban. They centered on the idea that the ministry had contracted for the consensual rape of a girl who was still a student in Hogwarts, gaining quite a large reaction from the public, a huge outcry, really.” Arthur sat heavily into the chair he was closest to.
“That’s a Daughter’s charity,” commented Hermione idly.
“We’ll get to that in a minute,” said Remus.
“Well, I am not opening another letter!” Sirius laid his stack of letters gingerly on the coffee table like he expected them to explode with rough handling.
“Rita’s article made it pretty clear that you were not the villain, Sirius. She rather made you out to be a noble hero of sorts, doing what had to be done to keep Hermione safe.” Remus had to chuckle at the look of fear on Sirius’ face.
“That’s actually the truth and was something I made pretty clear in the interview. We did want light shed on what we went through.” Hermione leaned into Sirius in a quiet demonstration of their solidarity.
“Of course you did,” said Molly sympathetically. “You couldn’t have known what would happen.”
“We barely kept the ministry safe from attack. When we were unable to produce the two of you for questions, to help calm the public down, a rumor got started that you were forced on the run again. Witches and wizards from all over Britain flooded the ministry and started hexing everything in sight, it was a mob.” Arthur rubbed a weary hand on the back of his neck.
Hermione and Sirius shared a look of shock. “Why would we have been forced on the run again?” Hermione didn’t follow that track.
“To hush you up, get rid of you quietly. As if the Aurors would be involved in something like that.” Tonks was on her feet again. “I have had more hexes thrown at me by matronly old witches in the last week than by every death eater I’ve ever run across. Combined!”
“Any get through?” Sirius tried but failed to keep from laughing.
“It isn’t bloody funny, Sirius! You could have told someone where you were going, you know!” Tonks glared at him balefully.
Sirius put his hands up in mock defeat. “Alright, alright, calm down.”
Hermione was quite irritated by Tonks. She could certainly sympathize with what her fortnight must have been like but there was absolutely no reason why they should have given up their privacy. “Actually, Tonks, I quite disagree. We were on our honeymoon! What would you have done? Drug us away from our holiday? Send dozens of reporters to take snapshots of us from every angle? No, thank you! There were dozens of witches and wizards at our wedding, they saw us leave together. Surely that could have been used as proof!” Hermione had started off irritated and ended up angry. She met Tonks’ glare evenly until the other witch looked away.
“We did get our hands on a candid photo or two but it was hard to tell if it was actually the two of you. Your photographer refused to release your photos without consent and the ministry had no grounds to seize them.” Arthur looked wearily at Hermione and Sirius, the difficulty of his week evident in the exhaustion on his face.
“The ministry is not the only one in hot water over this,” began Remus. “Rita did a follow up article the next week. She dug up hard proof that Narcissa Malfoy, in her capacity as Chairwitch of the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic for the Daughter’s, introduced a draft of a writ that outlined the creation of the Office for the Control of Unmarried Muggleborns and the specific details of the marriage law.”
“I wonder just how close Rita was to finding that proof when she did her interview with us.” Hermione turned to Sirius thoughtfully.
“You think maybe she already had it in hand?” Sirius’ tone was grim; he understood Rita but still didn’t like to think of her orchestrating the events of the last two weeks.
“She did know when the ceremony was going to be held and could have assumed we’d go on a honeymoon,” added Hermione, continuing her train of thought.
“You don’t seriously think-” Molly started to say and then changed her mind. “You’re right, it probably was calculated, that woman loves to stir up trouble.”
“So now the Daughter’s and the ministry have a lot of difficult questions to answer and all of it centers around us.” Hermione sighed heavily and rested her head on Sirius’ shoulder.
“I’ll bet at least some of that mail is from the Daughter’s,” said Sirius with a grin, she would be quite a commodity to the Daughter’s.
“Rita said there was more; ‘nastier’ is the word she used to describe it.” Hermione’s clever mind was piecing out how this could work to her advantage. “Did you say that Narcissa was acting in her official capacity as Chairwitch of the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic?”
“Yes, I did,” replied Remus.
“Well, she’s no longer in that position, Umbridge is,” said Hermione. “I wonder when that change took place and why?”
“So are things under control now?” Sirius directed his question to Tonks.
“Not really, I mean we have the violence under control but only by closing the ministry down. That’s been going on for four days now,” she replied.
“You must be joking!” It was almost too much for Hermione to get her brain around, the sheer enormity of hearing that the government had come to a standstill was staggering.
“Serves them right,” said Sirius defiantly, daring either Arthur or Tonks to contradict him.
Remus wrapped his arm around Tonks’ waist, encouraging her to hold her tongue. The bottled response to Sirius’ statement broiled just beneath the surface. Her last two weeks had been sheer hell, as a ministry employee she was one of those people who had been rightfully served, according to Sirius.
“We’d like for the two of you to come forward and make a statement, show the public that you’re both alright. It isn’t Kingsley’s ministry that is responsible for this, after all.” There was a pleading note in Arthur’s voice.
Sirius looked at Hermione with a raised eyebrow, he knew as well as she that simply coming forward with a statement of support would diminish some of the power she could potentially wield. It was, in his opinion, her move and he would back up whatever decision she made. Hermione read his expression perfectly, she paused, taking a moment to consider Arthur’s request and the impact such a willing exoneration could have.
“No. I’ll contact Braithwaite and do a quick interview about how we have returned from our honeymoon but I will not make any statement about current or past regimes until I’ve been to the next Daughter’s meeting.” Hermione sounded firm but she was a little nervous making such a strong statement of refusal to Arthur Weasley. Sirius picked up her hand in his and gave it a little squeeze.
“Now wait just a minute,” Tonks wrenched herself free from Remus.
“You heard her,” growled Sirius, taking on a frightening look in defense of his wife.
“Hear me out, Dora,” said Hermione evenly. “Before I make any such statement I would like to speak to the current Chairwitch of the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic. The next meeting is tomorrow, it will keep until then.”
Tonks shook her head but could see that their resolve was firm.
Sirius squeezed her hand and stood up. “We’ve just returned from our honeymoon. We haven’t had a chance to unpack, read our mail or rest from the return trip home. My wife is pregnant and doesn’t need all this stress.” The conversation was over and he was asking everyone to leave.
Molly wasted no time, patting Sirius on the arm and hugging Hermione warmly. “Good to have you two home.” She gave Arthur a look that meant business. He stood up and shook Sirius’ hand, saying nothing, clearly unsatisfied. They left by floo leaving Sirius and Hermione alone with Remus and Tonks.
Tonks took a step toward Hermione, intent on making one last bid. Sirius stepped in front of Hermione who was still sat upon the couch. Tonks met her cousins determined gaze with one of her own. She relented first with an irritated, “Fine!” She left without another word to anyone but giving Remus a withering look that spoke of her dissatisfaction with his lack of support. Remus watched her leave, plainly dreading having to face her ire when he returned home.
“Sorry, mate,” said Sirius sincerely.
Remus shook his head. “This unfortunate situation is not of your making. I really do sympathize with her position, the last two weeks have been miserable for her but you didn’t know what was happening and you have every right to play this how you see fit. I’ll just have to try and help her understand that.” He let out a long, weary sigh.
“I’ll contact Braithwaite immediately, that should alleviate some of the tension,” said Hermione, trying to be helpful, at least in part.
“Thank you, and now I bid you a good afternoon.” He smiled a little grimly and left by floo.
“Wow.” Hermione looked at Sirius in disbelief.
“Yeah.” He raised his eyebrows in a look of reluctant comprehension and shook his head.
Hermione conjured a quill, a pot of ink and some parchment. She penned a note to Braithwaite, letting her know that an interview as soon as that day would be fine. She sent the letter off with Mercury, urging him not to dally.
She returned to her stack of mail, still not able to completely digest all that had happened in her home in the space of an hour and a half.
“You alright, there?” Gently and with a smile for her.
“Yeah, just a lot to take in.” Still disbelieving. “I think I’ll just finish up the mail here.”
“Good.” Sirius nodded. “I’m going to vanish the owl shit.”
Hermione shook her head and giggled as he walked out the front door to his self appointed task.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o0
Hermione purposefully arrived a little late to the Daughter’s meeting, entering nonchalantly, greeting McGonagall and Andromeda warmly. Both women seemed quite unperturbed which was in stark contrast to that of many of the other members. Umbridge tried to pull Hermione to the side for a word but she seemed to not hear the simpering, “hem, hem,” that the insipid woman always used to gain attention.
Hermione made her way over to Miranda Goshawk, a woman she was determined to get to know better. She was aware that she was being pursued by Umbridge but her position as Chairwitch of the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic kept her inundated with questions about the current state of affairs. On her way over to Miranda she took note of the tightly knit group of women surrounding Narcissa Malfoy. They were standing in a far corner of the large room, well away from anyone else, talking quietly and looking about furtively. The thing that stood out the most to Hermione was that their number was greatly reduced. There had been well over a dozen at her first meeting but now there was less than ten. Hermione remembered several of their names from her introduction. She burned into her mind the name of each and every witch currently surrounding Narcissa Malfoy.
Before Umbridge was able to press Hermione for an audience the house elves had begun to serve dinner. Hermione blatantly and rather rudely ignored every attempt her neighbor made at communication. Instead she engaged Ursula Ollivander, her neighbor to the right, in light conversation, never once mentioning the circumstance Narcissa Malfoy had forced upon the Daughter’s.
Hermione did learn quite a bit about how the Daughter’s were organized from Ursula. Each member was required to serve on a committee which was a detail that had not been imparted to her at her first meeting. She knew that each committee had a Chairwitch but what she didn’t know was that this was an elected position. The Madam President was elected from among these five Chairwitches. She also learned that within the last six months there had been some significant changes.
“Of course a witch can be removed from her position as Chairwitch over a committee however I’ve only seen it happen once in the last thirty five years of membership,” said Ursula, wife of the wand maker.
Hermione realized she must be referring to Narcissa Malfoy’s loss of her position on the Liaison to the
Ministry of Magic. “Really?”
“Oh, yes. Just recently as a matter of fact. The Chair on the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic changed hands as a result of a vote, a rather rare and unique event. Of course then there had to be a vote for a new Madam President.” Ursula gave Hermione a significant look and then flicked her eyes at Narcissa Malfoy.
“She was Madam President as well?” Hermione realized that for an organization that was slow to change recent events must have been a real shake up.
“So how did she get to be Chairwitch of the St. Mungo’s Helping Hand Fund?” Hermione heard a plaintive “hem, hem” from her left side and pointedly ignored it.
“The usual way, the prior Chairwitch retired the position. Columba Rosier, the previous Chairwitch, is getting up in age and decided it was time.” Ursula heard Umbridge make another attempt, this time rather loud and insistent. She paused to give Hermione an opportunity to respond however it didn’t take long for her to realize that wasn’t going to happen so she continued on. “Probably for the best, Narcissa was getting restless without anything to do.”
Hermione raised her eyes at this but Ursula wasn’t able to expound on that thought. Dinner had concluded and Madam President Minerva McGonagall was calling the meeting into order. As Madam President it was her privilege to give the report for her committee, the Hogwart’s Scholarship Fund, first. Her report was short, noting a few significant contributions and reporting on how the gold was being managed. Once that was concluded she addressed the assembly regarding the upcoming vote.
“We have a unique opportunity tonight, in over seven centuries our organization has kept its ranks closed to a significant portion of our community. Tonight we can make an historic change, I encourage each and every member to open their hearts and minds and make the choice to include Hermione Granger Black among our number.” She smiled at Hermione before calling on the next Chairwitch to give her report.
Narcissa Malfoy’s report was quiet and brief and there was no mention of Hermione whatsoever. None of the fire she had so openly displayed at the last meeting surfaced. She barely raised her eyes to the assembled witches, her report over almost as soon as it had begun. She gave no acknowledgment that she was finished, she just returned to her seat and went silent. After an awkward pause McGonagall called for the report on the Queen Maeve Benefit Fund.
Cliodna Lestrange reported that the last Queen Maeve gala had to be cancelled and that refunds were being distributed. “I don’t need to remind any of you that Queen Maeve is our largest source for donations, all of our charities depend on it. Recent events,” she flicked her eyes hatefully at Narcissa, “threaten serious consequences for our centuries old organization. I feel that I have gotten to know Hermione Black well enough to say that she would be a great asset to us. I would like to join with the Madam President in encouraging each of you to vote in favor of her.” She nodded to McGonagall, returning the floor to her. McGonagall called for the report from the Society for Distressed Witches.
When Syrma Flint stood to make her presentation she first addressed Hermione directly. “I want to offer my sincerest apologies for the wrongs done to you by one of our own committees.” She paused and cast a disparaging look at Narcissa Malfoy. “I am ashamed to be associated with such an atrocity. The Daughters of the International Warlock Convention of 1289 has held its head high for the better part of seven centuries with a firm commitment to help those who are less fortunate in our community. I was so pleased to see you in attendance tonight and urge each and every member,” she paused to look around at the entire table, “to cast their vote in favor of having this courageous young woman join our number.” She continued with her report stating that her committee had far surpassed any previous month’s donations since the foundation of the charity. She returned the floor to McGonagall who called for the report from the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic.
Delores Umbridge stood and took a half step toward Hermione, clearing her throat before she spoke, not quite meeting Hermione’s eyes but always slightly to the left or the right. “The words I would say in apology would hardly compare to the suffering which you have bravely endured as a result of the actions of my predecessor. It is a poor representation of the purpose of the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic. This is an injury that once done, cannot be undone. We are facing our darkest hour as a result of her action and find ourselves at your mercy. I sincerely fear that without your gesture, that of joining our number, our once illustrious organization may be cast into the twilight of its existence. I too am heartened by your presence here tonight.” She turned her attention to the entire body of witches. “I would like to take this opportunity to go a step further and demand that each member cast their vote for this young woman at whose feet we currently find ourselves. I have nothing further.” She resumed her seat with a nod to McGonagall and focused on the parchment she had in front of her. Hermione thought the speech sounded rehearsed and wondered just how many hours Umbridge had spent in front of a mirror, practicing to get it perfect.
McGonagall stood once more and addressed the assembly. Instead of making a prolonged apology she professed her belief that the membership would do the right and necessary thing and vote for Hermione’s inclusion. The words she did finally speak to Hermione resounded strongly in the younger witch.
“Tonight you will be given a rare opportunity. Use it!”
McGonagall flicked her wand and produced two pieces of parchment. On one the word ‘Aye’ was written on the other ‘Nay.’ McGonagall reminded them that the parchments would only take one vote from each witch. Hermione was asked to retire to one of the antechambers while the vote was conducted. Upon closing the doors behind her she heard the lock click. She sat in the oppressively green room, trying to ignore the portraits whispering to her about how she was unworthy to be counted among them.
Hermione got up and pressed her ear to the door but she couldn’t hear anything from within the main chamber. She didn’t sit back down, opting to instead pace nervously back and forth. She was optimistic about inclusion after hearing speech after speech filled with apologies for the marriage law. Each chairwitch had made a case for adding her to the Daughter’s, each had held a note of desperation. There was of course one glaring exception. Hermione wondered if Narcissa would once again be removed from a position of power, whatever influence she may have once wielded here, it was clearly shattered.
She turned her thoughts to which committee she would petition to serve on. She wanted to do something to help muggleborns like herself but there really wasn’t a committee geared toward that. She supposed that the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic would be her best option there but of course that would mean working closely with Umbridge.
The lock on the door clicked again and the doors swung slowly open. McGonagall called for Hermione to return to the gathering. Hermione returned to the large chair bearing the Black family crest and waited. McGonagall was staring at the two pieces of parchment, still waiting for the result although the vote itself was clearly over. Hermione knew the second the results were in by the look of satisfaction and relief on the face of McGonagall.
“Congratulations, Hermione Black! You are officially a Daughter!” McGonagall looked well pleased by the result. A round of polite applause went up in her honor.
McGonagall flicked her wand and a very large, clearly ancient, tightly rolled scroll appeared on the table in front of her. McGonagall asked Hermione to come to her. The room was silent, only the clicking of her heels could be heard as she made the long walk to the other side of the very large table. McGonagall indicated that she should stand beside her chair and once there requested her hand. McGonagall conjured another ancient artifact, a very old quill. “We’ve checked it for curses.”
Hermione looked at her puzzled, not understanding what she meant by that. It all became quite clear when McGonagall picked up the quill and in a sudden and sharp move she pricked Hermione’s finger and then handed the quill to her.
“In blood?” Incredulous.
“Purebloods,” returned McGonagall wearily.
Hermione added her name to the official roster after which McGonagall advised her to be thinking of which committee she would like to serve on and to have her answer by the next meeting. McGonagall then adjourned the meeting, encouraging each member to greet Hermione personally and congratulate her.
A few witches, about nine in total, Narcissa among them, left without a backward glance.
Hermione was approached by witch after witch, most whom only offered a few perfunctory words of welcome. Hermione was reminded once again of feeling like a necessary evil. Andromeda gave her a huge hug and invited her for a visit so she could talk to her about the committee she served on, the Society for Distressed Witches. McGonagall reminded Hermione about her invitation to tea which would be in her private quarters at Hogwarts in two weeks time.
Hermione dallied on purpose, knowing that there was one witch who was rather desperate to speak with her. Hermione detested Umbridge and wanted this conversation over with quickly. Umbridge attempted at pleasantries but Hermione cut across her rudely. She did not mince her words, coming straight to the point.
“The only way I’m making a statement in favor of the ministry is if you grant me access to every document the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic has forwarded to the ministry for the last several years. I know there are some dark secrets involving muggleborns and I want to know what they are. I want to see them, touch them and copy them. Otherwise I will openly denounce the ministry.” Hermione looked Umbridge straight in the eye, brooking no disagreement.
Umbridge smiled a wide, false smile and in her high girlish voice said, “Of, course.”
“Good,” said Hermione, flicking her wand, producing a parchment with several runic symbols written across the top. “There will of course be this magically binding document created to hold you to your word and prevent you from destroying any and all documents.” Hermione let Umbridge know she was no fool. She produced a quill and a pot of ink.
The other witches character changed immediately. She regarded Hermione coldly, harshly picking up the quill, signing her name with an ugly look at Hermione and then issuing a short, sharp, “Fine!” Umbridge pushed roughly past Hermione and left.
Hermione grinned from ear to ear and couldn’t wait to get home and tell Sirius all about her evening.
Power
On the return trip home Hermione and Sirius made a stop to see her mother’s aunt in Texas, spending a couple of days with her. Aunt Elizabeth was delighted to see Hermione, whom she hadn’t laid eyes on in about five years. The aunt flirted shamelessly with Sirius, going so far as to pat him on the bottom, giving his taut, firm bum a healthy squeeze right in front of Hermione, teasing her about how she’d gotten herself a real stud. She had warned him about the aunt, who was five years younger than Hermione’s grandmother, the aunt’s sister, but had no idea she would go so far. Sirius just laughed it off and flirted right back with the much older woman. The two got along famously, often teasing Hermione together, who finally realized she just needed to relax. When it came time to return home sincere offers of hospitality were exchanged. Hermione and Sirius hoped she would one day come to visit them.
When the newlyweds came roaring back to England they were refreshed and replenished from their trip but also glad to be home. With the wedding and honeymoon behind them they would need to begin planning the nursery and generally preparing for their bundle of joy.
Sirius landed the bike on a lonely road, close to the coast where no muggles would get the shock of their life. Hermione was completely at ease now, her fear of riding the bike a distant memory. She chatted to him about what she would like to do with the nursery and how she was really quite nervous about her upcoming meeting with the Daughter’s. She would only have a day to recoup from their journey and was plagued with serious misgivings about whether she would manage to get the necessary votes. The wedding and honeymoon had pushed these thoughts to the back of her mind but were now stealing their way to the fore with force. Sirius mostly listened to the pleasing sound of her speech, only catching about half of what she was saying as her voice was dwarfed by the rumbling of the engine. He added the necessary ‘oh, really’ and ‘uh, huh’ to keep himself engaged in her conversation and to encourage her to continue.
When they turned onto Eternal Springs Drive and eagerly took in the view of their beckoning home they immediately noticed something rather odd. Their house was covered in owls, what looked to be at least twenty and judging from the droppings they had been there awhile. Sirius parked the bike in the driveway and let Hermione dismount before getting off of it himself and placing the anti theft charm. They exchanged significant looks as they each mentally tried to count the large number of birds.
“Wonder what’s been going on,” said Hermione, worried that this much news couldn’t possibly be good.
Sirius shook his head and shrugged his shoulders in response to her as they took the post from the owls, despite the odd looks from the neighbors.
They entered their home, sitting themselves comfortably in the living room and began opening the mail. Sirius flipped through his stack impatiently, looking for Remus’ neat handwriting, figuring if something was wrong his friend would have left word. He was right about Remus and opened the scroll, his eyes scanning from side to side as he read, his mouth slowly opening wider and wider in complete shock.
“Mum hopes we had a nice honeymoon,” said Hermione absently, without looking up.
“Merlin’s saggy balls, the ministry was nearly overrun while we were gone.” He looked up at her for a reaction.
“What?” Hermione was certain she must have heard him wrong.
“Yeah!” Sirius got up and walked over to the fireplace. He gestured with the letter in hand. “That’s what Mooney says!” Sirius grabbed a handful of floo powder and tossed it into the fireplace. He shouted into the green flames, “Hey Moon!”
Hermione peered curiously over the couch, her eyes darting between the fireplace and Sirius, hoping that this was some sort of a joke. After a minute Remus’ face poked up out of the green embers.
“Thank god you two are home! I’ll just grab Dora and we’ll come over. Oh, and you might want to floo Molly as well.” Without any explanation for what was in the letter or for his tone of urgency he was gone.
Sirius looked back at Hermione in mild alarm and stunned amusement. “What the hell was that all about?” Still in shock he felt the barest tickle of fear crawl along his spine.
Hermione looked even more shocked than he did. “Better floo Molly,” she reminded.
“Oh, right.” He tossed in some more floo powder, this time getting on his knees and bending down into the flames, placing his head in the green fire.
Hermione couldn’t hear what he was saying and was left to wonder. While he was bent over she couldn’t help but admire the way the tight leather pants hugged his firm arse. She decided to forgive Aunt Elizabeth her little transgression, he really was quite irresistible.
Sirius pulled his head out of the fire and got to his feet. “Arthur and Molly are on their way over.” His lips curved down in a puzzled frown, his brow furrowed in concentration. He finally released a defeated sigh and joined his wife on the couch, picking up the stack of letters before he sat.
Hermione laughed softly in mild disbelief. “Do you know a Gertrude Hecklemeyer?”
Sirius looked up from his letter, pausing in momentary thoughtful contemplation before answering. “No, why?”
“Well, she has sent a cursed letter to the Minister of Magic for what he did to us.” Hermione wore a wry grin.
“What did Kingsley do to us?” Sirius asked his question slowly, as though he should have the answer but didn’t.
“Not a clue.” Hermione cocked her head to the side in frank befuddlement.
They were each working on a piece of mail when Remus and Tonks stepped through the fireplace. Tonks rushed into the living room, glaring at each of them but seemed unable to say what was on her mind. She paced in front of Hermione and Sirius, giving little huffs and looking at Remus. Her hair had gone a little spikier than normal and the pink was straying into red. Seeming to come to a decision she cast a defiant look at Remus before stepping up to the bewildered couple on the couch.
“Do you have any idea-” Harshly and then pulled up short.
“What I have been through because of-” Bordering on hysterics and then swallowing her thought.
“Dora, they couldn’t have known.” Calm, placating, trying to reason with her about a topic as yet to be disclosed.
“Nymphadora, will you just spit it out?” Sirius barely held back the laugh over her behavior.
The sound of an activated floo caught their attention, they turned as one to see Arthur and Molly Weasley step into the family room.
“Hello, dears,” said Molly, genuine in her greeting with a sharp look at her husband, who was looking rather grim. “Did you have a nice holiday?”
“Lovely, actually,” replied Hermione with a smile.
“Well, isn’t that bloody fantastic? They had a lovely time!” Tonks nearly spat, her tone derisive.
Sirius stood up. “Enough of this! If I’m going to be attacked in my own home I’d like to know why!”
“Did either of you get a chance to read the article that Rita Skeeter wrote about you, the one on the interview you did with her? It ran the week before your wedding.” Arthur’s tone was tight and controlled.
“Too busy that week,” answered Sirius.
“No, but I heard about it from Ron. He also told me about the reaction at the ministry from the Braithwaite interview. Why? Does whatever this is have something to do with that?” Hermione began to turn the two interviews over in her mind, considering Harry’s words about the possible public reaction.
“It took about a week to really gain momentum, and yes, both articles actually, have everything to do with this.” Ever calm, ever controlled, Remus shed a little light on the situation.
“And what exactly is…this?” Sirius gestured to everyone, indicating that they should sit and politely discuss rather than fight.
“The Society for Distressed Witches got wind of Rita’s article and focused on the fact that a seventeen year old virgin had to have sex with a man twice her age to avoid Azkaban. They centered on the idea that the ministry had contracted for the consensual rape of a girl who was still a student in Hogwarts, gaining quite a large reaction from the public, a huge outcry, really.” Arthur sat heavily into the chair he was closest to.
“That’s a Daughter’s charity,” commented Hermione idly.
“We’ll get to that in a minute,” said Remus.
“Well, I am not opening another letter!” Sirius laid his stack of letters gingerly on the coffee table like he expected them to explode with rough handling.
“Rita’s article made it pretty clear that you were not the villain, Sirius. She rather made you out to be a noble hero of sorts, doing what had to be done to keep Hermione safe.” Remus had to chuckle at the look of fear on Sirius’ face.
“That’s actually the truth and was something I made pretty clear in the interview. We did want light shed on what we went through.” Hermione leaned into Sirius in a quiet demonstration of their solidarity.
“Of course you did,” said Molly sympathetically. “You couldn’t have known what would happen.”
“We barely kept the ministry safe from attack. When we were unable to produce the two of you for questions, to help calm the public down, a rumor got started that you were forced on the run again. Witches and wizards from all over Britain flooded the ministry and started hexing everything in sight, it was a mob.” Arthur rubbed a weary hand on the back of his neck.
Hermione and Sirius shared a look of shock. “Why would we have been forced on the run again?” Hermione didn’t follow that track.
“To hush you up, get rid of you quietly. As if the Aurors would be involved in something like that.” Tonks was on her feet again. “I have had more hexes thrown at me by matronly old witches in the last week than by every death eater I’ve ever run across. Combined!”
“Any get through?” Sirius tried but failed to keep from laughing.
“It isn’t bloody funny, Sirius! You could have told someone where you were going, you know!” Tonks glared at him balefully.
Sirius put his hands up in mock defeat. “Alright, alright, calm down.”
Hermione was quite irritated by Tonks. She could certainly sympathize with what her fortnight must have been like but there was absolutely no reason why they should have given up their privacy. “Actually, Tonks, I quite disagree. We were on our honeymoon! What would you have done? Drug us away from our holiday? Send dozens of reporters to take snapshots of us from every angle? No, thank you! There were dozens of witches and wizards at our wedding, they saw us leave together. Surely that could have been used as proof!” Hermione had started off irritated and ended up angry. She met Tonks’ glare evenly until the other witch looked away.
“We did get our hands on a candid photo or two but it was hard to tell if it was actually the two of you. Your photographer refused to release your photos without consent and the ministry had no grounds to seize them.” Arthur looked wearily at Hermione and Sirius, the difficulty of his week evident in the exhaustion on his face.
“The ministry is not the only one in hot water over this,” began Remus. “Rita did a follow up article the next week. She dug up hard proof that Narcissa Malfoy, in her capacity as Chairwitch of the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic for the Daughter’s, introduced a draft of a writ that outlined the creation of the Office for the Control of Unmarried Muggleborns and the specific details of the marriage law.”
“I wonder just how close Rita was to finding that proof when she did her interview with us.” Hermione turned to Sirius thoughtfully.
“You think maybe she already had it in hand?” Sirius’ tone was grim; he understood Rita but still didn’t like to think of her orchestrating the events of the last two weeks.
“She did know when the ceremony was going to be held and could have assumed we’d go on a honeymoon,” added Hermione, continuing her train of thought.
“You don’t seriously think-” Molly started to say and then changed her mind. “You’re right, it probably was calculated, that woman loves to stir up trouble.”
“So now the Daughter’s and the ministry have a lot of difficult questions to answer and all of it centers around us.” Hermione sighed heavily and rested her head on Sirius’ shoulder.
“I’ll bet at least some of that mail is from the Daughter’s,” said Sirius with a grin, she would be quite a commodity to the Daughter’s.
“Rita said there was more; ‘nastier’ is the word she used to describe it.” Hermione’s clever mind was piecing out how this could work to her advantage. “Did you say that Narcissa was acting in her official capacity as Chairwitch of the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic?”
“Yes, I did,” replied Remus.
“Well, she’s no longer in that position, Umbridge is,” said Hermione. “I wonder when that change took place and why?”
“So are things under control now?” Sirius directed his question to Tonks.
“Not really, I mean we have the violence under control but only by closing the ministry down. That’s been going on for four days now,” she replied.
“You must be joking!” It was almost too much for Hermione to get her brain around, the sheer enormity of hearing that the government had come to a standstill was staggering.
“Serves them right,” said Sirius defiantly, daring either Arthur or Tonks to contradict him.
Remus wrapped his arm around Tonks’ waist, encouraging her to hold her tongue. The bottled response to Sirius’ statement broiled just beneath the surface. Her last two weeks had been sheer hell, as a ministry employee she was one of those people who had been rightfully served, according to Sirius.
“We’d like for the two of you to come forward and make a statement, show the public that you’re both alright. It isn’t Kingsley’s ministry that is responsible for this, after all.” There was a pleading note in Arthur’s voice.
Sirius looked at Hermione with a raised eyebrow, he knew as well as she that simply coming forward with a statement of support would diminish some of the power she could potentially wield. It was, in his opinion, her move and he would back up whatever decision she made. Hermione read his expression perfectly, she paused, taking a moment to consider Arthur’s request and the impact such a willing exoneration could have.
“No. I’ll contact Braithwaite and do a quick interview about how we have returned from our honeymoon but I will not make any statement about current or past regimes until I’ve been to the next Daughter’s meeting.” Hermione sounded firm but she was a little nervous making such a strong statement of refusal to Arthur Weasley. Sirius picked up her hand in his and gave it a little squeeze.
“Now wait just a minute,” Tonks wrenched herself free from Remus.
“You heard her,” growled Sirius, taking on a frightening look in defense of his wife.
“Hear me out, Dora,” said Hermione evenly. “Before I make any such statement I would like to speak to the current Chairwitch of the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic. The next meeting is tomorrow, it will keep until then.”
Tonks shook her head but could see that their resolve was firm.
Sirius squeezed her hand and stood up. “We’ve just returned from our honeymoon. We haven’t had a chance to unpack, read our mail or rest from the return trip home. My wife is pregnant and doesn’t need all this stress.” The conversation was over and he was asking everyone to leave.
Molly wasted no time, patting Sirius on the arm and hugging Hermione warmly. “Good to have you two home.” She gave Arthur a look that meant business. He stood up and shook Sirius’ hand, saying nothing, clearly unsatisfied. They left by floo leaving Sirius and Hermione alone with Remus and Tonks.
Tonks took a step toward Hermione, intent on making one last bid. Sirius stepped in front of Hermione who was still sat upon the couch. Tonks met her cousins determined gaze with one of her own. She relented first with an irritated, “Fine!” She left without another word to anyone but giving Remus a withering look that spoke of her dissatisfaction with his lack of support. Remus watched her leave, plainly dreading having to face her ire when he returned home.
“Sorry, mate,” said Sirius sincerely.
Remus shook his head. “This unfortunate situation is not of your making. I really do sympathize with her position, the last two weeks have been miserable for her but you didn’t know what was happening and you have every right to play this how you see fit. I’ll just have to try and help her understand that.” He let out a long, weary sigh.
“I’ll contact Braithwaite immediately, that should alleviate some of the tension,” said Hermione, trying to be helpful, at least in part.
“Thank you, and now I bid you a good afternoon.” He smiled a little grimly and left by floo.
“Wow.” Hermione looked at Sirius in disbelief.
“Yeah.” He raised his eyebrows in a look of reluctant comprehension and shook his head.
Hermione conjured a quill, a pot of ink and some parchment. She penned a note to Braithwaite, letting her know that an interview as soon as that day would be fine. She sent the letter off with Mercury, urging him not to dally.
She returned to her stack of mail, still not able to completely digest all that had happened in her home in the space of an hour and a half.
“You alright, there?” Gently and with a smile for her.
“Yeah, just a lot to take in.” Still disbelieving. “I think I’ll just finish up the mail here.”
“Good.” Sirius nodded. “I’m going to vanish the owl shit.”
Hermione shook her head and giggled as he walked out the front door to his self appointed task.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o0
Hermione purposefully arrived a little late to the Daughter’s meeting, entering nonchalantly, greeting McGonagall and Andromeda warmly. Both women seemed quite unperturbed which was in stark contrast to that of many of the other members. Umbridge tried to pull Hermione to the side for a word but she seemed to not hear the simpering, “hem, hem,” that the insipid woman always used to gain attention.
Hermione made her way over to Miranda Goshawk, a woman she was determined to get to know better. She was aware that she was being pursued by Umbridge but her position as Chairwitch of the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic kept her inundated with questions about the current state of affairs. On her way over to Miranda she took note of the tightly knit group of women surrounding Narcissa Malfoy. They were standing in a far corner of the large room, well away from anyone else, talking quietly and looking about furtively. The thing that stood out the most to Hermione was that their number was greatly reduced. There had been well over a dozen at her first meeting but now there was less than ten. Hermione remembered several of their names from her introduction. She burned into her mind the name of each and every witch currently surrounding Narcissa Malfoy.
Before Umbridge was able to press Hermione for an audience the house elves had begun to serve dinner. Hermione blatantly and rather rudely ignored every attempt her neighbor made at communication. Instead she engaged Ursula Ollivander, her neighbor to the right, in light conversation, never once mentioning the circumstance Narcissa Malfoy had forced upon the Daughter’s.
Hermione did learn quite a bit about how the Daughter’s were organized from Ursula. Each member was required to serve on a committee which was a detail that had not been imparted to her at her first meeting. She knew that each committee had a Chairwitch but what she didn’t know was that this was an elected position. The Madam President was elected from among these five Chairwitches. She also learned that within the last six months there had been some significant changes.
“Of course a witch can be removed from her position as Chairwitch over a committee however I’ve only seen it happen once in the last thirty five years of membership,” said Ursula, wife of the wand maker.
Hermione realized she must be referring to Narcissa Malfoy’s loss of her position on the Liaison to the
Ministry of Magic. “Really?”
“Oh, yes. Just recently as a matter of fact. The Chair on the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic changed hands as a result of a vote, a rather rare and unique event. Of course then there had to be a vote for a new Madam President.” Ursula gave Hermione a significant look and then flicked her eyes at Narcissa Malfoy.
“She was Madam President as well?” Hermione realized that for an organization that was slow to change recent events must have been a real shake up.
“So how did she get to be Chairwitch of the St. Mungo’s Helping Hand Fund?” Hermione heard a plaintive “hem, hem” from her left side and pointedly ignored it.
“The usual way, the prior Chairwitch retired the position. Columba Rosier, the previous Chairwitch, is getting up in age and decided it was time.” Ursula heard Umbridge make another attempt, this time rather loud and insistent. She paused to give Hermione an opportunity to respond however it didn’t take long for her to realize that wasn’t going to happen so she continued on. “Probably for the best, Narcissa was getting restless without anything to do.”
Hermione raised her eyes at this but Ursula wasn’t able to expound on that thought. Dinner had concluded and Madam President Minerva McGonagall was calling the meeting into order. As Madam President it was her privilege to give the report for her committee, the Hogwart’s Scholarship Fund, first. Her report was short, noting a few significant contributions and reporting on how the gold was being managed. Once that was concluded she addressed the assembly regarding the upcoming vote.
“We have a unique opportunity tonight, in over seven centuries our organization has kept its ranks closed to a significant portion of our community. Tonight we can make an historic change, I encourage each and every member to open their hearts and minds and make the choice to include Hermione Granger Black among our number.” She smiled at Hermione before calling on the next Chairwitch to give her report.
Narcissa Malfoy’s report was quiet and brief and there was no mention of Hermione whatsoever. None of the fire she had so openly displayed at the last meeting surfaced. She barely raised her eyes to the assembled witches, her report over almost as soon as it had begun. She gave no acknowledgment that she was finished, she just returned to her seat and went silent. After an awkward pause McGonagall called for the report on the Queen Maeve Benefit Fund.
Cliodna Lestrange reported that the last Queen Maeve gala had to be cancelled and that refunds were being distributed. “I don’t need to remind any of you that Queen Maeve is our largest source for donations, all of our charities depend on it. Recent events,” she flicked her eyes hatefully at Narcissa, “threaten serious consequences for our centuries old organization. I feel that I have gotten to know Hermione Black well enough to say that she would be a great asset to us. I would like to join with the Madam President in encouraging each of you to vote in favor of her.” She nodded to McGonagall, returning the floor to her. McGonagall called for the report from the Society for Distressed Witches.
When Syrma Flint stood to make her presentation she first addressed Hermione directly. “I want to offer my sincerest apologies for the wrongs done to you by one of our own committees.” She paused and cast a disparaging look at Narcissa Malfoy. “I am ashamed to be associated with such an atrocity. The Daughters of the International Warlock Convention of 1289 has held its head high for the better part of seven centuries with a firm commitment to help those who are less fortunate in our community. I was so pleased to see you in attendance tonight and urge each and every member,” she paused to look around at the entire table, “to cast their vote in favor of having this courageous young woman join our number.” She continued with her report stating that her committee had far surpassed any previous month’s donations since the foundation of the charity. She returned the floor to McGonagall who called for the report from the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic.
Delores Umbridge stood and took a half step toward Hermione, clearing her throat before she spoke, not quite meeting Hermione’s eyes but always slightly to the left or the right. “The words I would say in apology would hardly compare to the suffering which you have bravely endured as a result of the actions of my predecessor. It is a poor representation of the purpose of the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic. This is an injury that once done, cannot be undone. We are facing our darkest hour as a result of her action and find ourselves at your mercy. I sincerely fear that without your gesture, that of joining our number, our once illustrious organization may be cast into the twilight of its existence. I too am heartened by your presence here tonight.” She turned her attention to the entire body of witches. “I would like to take this opportunity to go a step further and demand that each member cast their vote for this young woman at whose feet we currently find ourselves. I have nothing further.” She resumed her seat with a nod to McGonagall and focused on the parchment she had in front of her. Hermione thought the speech sounded rehearsed and wondered just how many hours Umbridge had spent in front of a mirror, practicing to get it perfect.
McGonagall stood once more and addressed the assembly. Instead of making a prolonged apology she professed her belief that the membership would do the right and necessary thing and vote for Hermione’s inclusion. The words she did finally speak to Hermione resounded strongly in the younger witch.
“Tonight you will be given a rare opportunity. Use it!”
McGonagall flicked her wand and produced two pieces of parchment. On one the word ‘Aye’ was written on the other ‘Nay.’ McGonagall reminded them that the parchments would only take one vote from each witch. Hermione was asked to retire to one of the antechambers while the vote was conducted. Upon closing the doors behind her she heard the lock click. She sat in the oppressively green room, trying to ignore the portraits whispering to her about how she was unworthy to be counted among them.
Hermione got up and pressed her ear to the door but she couldn’t hear anything from within the main chamber. She didn’t sit back down, opting to instead pace nervously back and forth. She was optimistic about inclusion after hearing speech after speech filled with apologies for the marriage law. Each chairwitch had made a case for adding her to the Daughter’s, each had held a note of desperation. There was of course one glaring exception. Hermione wondered if Narcissa would once again be removed from a position of power, whatever influence she may have once wielded here, it was clearly shattered.
She turned her thoughts to which committee she would petition to serve on. She wanted to do something to help muggleborns like herself but there really wasn’t a committee geared toward that. She supposed that the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic would be her best option there but of course that would mean working closely with Umbridge.
The lock on the door clicked again and the doors swung slowly open. McGonagall called for Hermione to return to the gathering. Hermione returned to the large chair bearing the Black family crest and waited. McGonagall was staring at the two pieces of parchment, still waiting for the result although the vote itself was clearly over. Hermione knew the second the results were in by the look of satisfaction and relief on the face of McGonagall.
“Congratulations, Hermione Black! You are officially a Daughter!” McGonagall looked well pleased by the result. A round of polite applause went up in her honor.
McGonagall flicked her wand and a very large, clearly ancient, tightly rolled scroll appeared on the table in front of her. McGonagall asked Hermione to come to her. The room was silent, only the clicking of her heels could be heard as she made the long walk to the other side of the very large table. McGonagall indicated that she should stand beside her chair and once there requested her hand. McGonagall conjured another ancient artifact, a very old quill. “We’ve checked it for curses.”
Hermione looked at her puzzled, not understanding what she meant by that. It all became quite clear when McGonagall picked up the quill and in a sudden and sharp move she pricked Hermione’s finger and then handed the quill to her.
“In blood?” Incredulous.
“Purebloods,” returned McGonagall wearily.
Hermione added her name to the official roster after which McGonagall advised her to be thinking of which committee she would like to serve on and to have her answer by the next meeting. McGonagall then adjourned the meeting, encouraging each member to greet Hermione personally and congratulate her.
A few witches, about nine in total, Narcissa among them, left without a backward glance.
Hermione was approached by witch after witch, most whom only offered a few perfunctory words of welcome. Hermione was reminded once again of feeling like a necessary evil. Andromeda gave her a huge hug and invited her for a visit so she could talk to her about the committee she served on, the Society for Distressed Witches. McGonagall reminded Hermione about her invitation to tea which would be in her private quarters at Hogwarts in two weeks time.
Hermione dallied on purpose, knowing that there was one witch who was rather desperate to speak with her. Hermione detested Umbridge and wanted this conversation over with quickly. Umbridge attempted at pleasantries but Hermione cut across her rudely. She did not mince her words, coming straight to the point.
“The only way I’m making a statement in favor of the ministry is if you grant me access to every document the Liaison to the Ministry of Magic has forwarded to the ministry for the last several years. I know there are some dark secrets involving muggleborns and I want to know what they are. I want to see them, touch them and copy them. Otherwise I will openly denounce the ministry.” Hermione looked Umbridge straight in the eye, brooking no disagreement.
Umbridge smiled a wide, false smile and in her high girlish voice said, “Of, course.”
“Good,” said Hermione, flicking her wand, producing a parchment with several runic symbols written across the top. “There will of course be this magically binding document created to hold you to your word and prevent you from destroying any and all documents.” Hermione let Umbridge know she was no fool. She produced a quill and a pot of ink.
The other witches character changed immediately. She regarded Hermione coldly, harshly picking up the quill, signing her name with an ugly look at Hermione and then issuing a short, sharp, “Fine!” Umbridge pushed roughly past Hermione and left.
Hermione grinned from ear to ear and couldn’t wait to get home and tell Sirius all about her evening.
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The Daughter's part was doubtlessly a huge accomplishment, each speech was brilliantly written, not just by showing the importancy and prestige of the Daughter's purpose but also because each one fitted perfectly every interlocutor, none out of character. And I loved Hermione's little stunt with Umbridge, serves the old toad right.
I really enjoyed reading this chapter. Great work.
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I know Tonks was harsh, I reread some of her lines in DH and thought it was justified. I never let her get into actual hysterics, just at the border but then let her reign it in. She is opinionated and forceful when she needs to be. I think that having their world go from calm and normal to complete chaos with little to no warning would really push her buttons. They desperately needed to find Hermione and Sirius and couldn't.
Thank you, working with the Daughter's is fun but there is so much that has to be balanced, so many characters that have be portrayed accurately and unique to each other, its a challenge. I was hoping that the speeches came off authentically.
I was so delighted at giving Hermione some payback to that bitch. I have never hated a character the way that I hated Umbridge. I just hated reading one horrible thing she did after another. By the end of book five I had quite enough of her. I'm probably disturbed seeing as how I get such a huge thrill rubbing her nose in the shit.
Multiple chapters update......yay!!!
Very well done...I absolutely love your portrayal of Sirius. That's one of the places where Rowling went wrong you know? I read it somewhere that she has the ability to breathe so much life into her characters but refuses to let them grow.
Please do something about putting Umbridge in her place. She's among the set of people I can't forgive among the HP characters...Dumbledore, Molly and Kreacher being others....they never suffered enough for what they did to my dear Siri...:(
Anyway great chapter...keep it going!
Re: Multiple chapters update......yay!!!
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