chapter 3
BETROTHAL CONTRACT
WHEREAS Arthur Percival Weasley and Molly Ellen Weasley nee Prewett are both lawfully wed and the natural parents of their daughter Genevra Molly Weasley having all rights and privileges to her by law and custom; and
WHEREAS Albus Pervical Wolfric Brian Dumbledore, by law and custom in the absence of a probated Will or other documentation executed heretofor by James Charles Potter and/or Lily Marie Potter nee Evans, both now deceased and formerly natural parents of Harry James Potter, is aforesaid Harry James Potter's Legal and Magical Guardian empowered to act on his behalf; and
WHEREAS it is deemed in the best interest of the aforesaid Genevra Molly Weasley and Harry James Potter that they should one day be bound as wife to husband;
THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:
Albus Pervical Wolfric Brian Dumbledore, as legal Guardian of the Minor Bridegroom shall deliver unto House Weasley a Dowry to be paid out in 1,000 Galleon per annum installments commencing 90 days after execution of this Agreement and continuing until Minor Bridegroom attains his sixteenth Birthday. In addition, all costs associated with the education of all lawful children of Arthur Percival and Molly Ellen Weasley shall be covered from this date until all such children attain their N.E.W.T.s without exception.
Within 30 days after Minor Bridegroom attains age sixteen, Minor Bridegroom and Minor Bride shall be wed.
The parties agree to the use of such Potions as necessary should either minor prove reluctant in regards to accepting the other as lawfully wedded spouse, promptly consummating aforesaid marriage and bearing a child of such union not more than twelve (12) months after marriage.
Upon the marriage of the aforesaid minors pursuant to the terms of this agreement, Albus Pervical Wolfric Brian Dumbledore, as legal Guardian of the Minor Bridegroom shall deliver unto House Weasley further Dowry of 10,000 Galleons.
Upon birth of the child of the aforesaid union, a further and complete Dowry of 50,000 Galleons shall be deliverd.
Breach of the terms of this Agreement by the undersigned or by either of the aforesaid Minors shall incur such penalties as allowed by law.
Entered into this 1st day of December, 1981.
It was signed by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Dumbledore.
A stunned silence fell over the room for a moment.
"Is … is this real?" Katie asked.
"Unfortunately," Ginny said. "I got it from Dumbledore's office a couple of weeks ago. I was sent there for a detention and was told to straighten out some papers. Dumbledore stepped out and I accioed and copied some of his other papers about Harry including this one."
"You're so screwed," Rosie Rosier said.
"Tell me about it," Ginny sighed.
"I don't understand," Hermione began.
"Basically," Ginny said, "when I was not even four months old, my parents sold me off. According to this, I have to marry Harry and have a kid before I'm even sixteen. If you really must know what that means, it means it was pointless even sending me to Hogwarts since I'll never sit for my O.W.L.s much less my N.E.W.T.s."
"Why not? Is there a rule against that sort of thing?"
"No," Daphne said. "You won't find it in Hogwarts: A History, but the school has had married students in the past and even some with kids although I think the last was over two hundred years ago."
"But my Mum will insist I drop out and focus on my duties as a mother," Ginny said. "She's really old fashioned that way. She can't understand why any witch who's married would want a job or why a witch would keep working once she had a child."
"This is so…" Hermione began. "Surely it doesn't mean you have to…"
"DO YOU SEE THE BIT ABOUT POTIONS?" Ginny yelled. "THEY AGREED THEY CAN FORCE US TO!"
"They'd both still be underage," Susan added calmly. "By agreeing to set the marriage date before either child is of age, it means the adults can see it happen regardless of what the children want themselves!"
"That's … that's…" Hermione began.
"It's a practice that has fallen out of use," Daphne said, "but it's still legal. It was a way to make sure Pureblood lines remained pure. Basically, this contract trumps their own personal feelings. Oh, they aren't forbidden to date or even sleep with others beforehand. But in the end, they can't choose who they marry."
"And don't think my Mum won't see this through given half a chance! She's been telling me I was destined to be Harry Potter's wife for as long as I can remember and I believed her! That changed after the Chamber of Secrets. I admit I had a huge crush on him, but after that year… I still like Harry, but I grew up I guess. Being forced to do things against your will tends to do that I suppose. We both deserve to choose our lives, but this piece of rubbish says our lives were chosen for us before either of us could even talk! Even if Harry and I were in love, I sure as hell don't want to quit school! And we're not! I do love him, but not that way! I know he doesn't see me that way. And yet, in little over a year we're to get hitched and start spitting out sprogs whether we want to or not! I don't even get to choose! If I don't get busy right away, I'll be potioned up!"
"I can't believe your parents would agree…" Hermione began.
"They worship the ground Dumbledore walks on," Ginny said. "Certainly my Mum does and I don't know if my Dad has his own opinions. If he has, it's never said in front of us. Hogwarts isn't cheap, you know. My parents had to send seven of us through school and … well my Mum's the type who would consider a Hardship Scholarship an insult. Whatever Dumbledore's plans are, this contract is putting us through school. Giving Dad the benefit of the doubt, he might think this contract will never actually be enforced."
"They are out there," Lucinda said. "Contracts like these are used to get around tax laws about gifts and stuff. But they usually have out clauses."
"Out clauses?" Hermione asked.
"Such as not requiring any action before the children turn twenty-five or so and allowing the children to void the contract by marrying someone else before then. Something like that. There's no out clause in this one, which means there are penalties if this contract is breached."
"What sort of penalties?"
"Well, if the Weasley's were to refuse to go through with this or if Ginny got out of it, the Potter Estate could demand repayment of all monies paid out as of the date of the breach."
"I figured it out," Ginny said. "Including all the school expenses which put all of us through thus far, that would be over 40,000. I'm certain we don't have that much."
"And if Harry were to…"
"If Dumbledore backed out, Arthur and Molly could claim an equal amount from him or half of any vaults he has access to on Harry's behalf, whichever is greater," Lucinda said. "Dumbledore, however, is the one who has to pay it. He signed the deal, he pays if he backs out. Fortunately for Harry it was not signed by House Potter, otherwise half of the Potter Estate would forfeit to the Weasleys. House Potter was one of the wealthiest families in magical Britain and I seriously doubt Dumbledore has access to their main vaults. Basically, neither side can afford not to see this contract through."
"And given we believe we need to get Harry out from under Dumbledore's control, this contract is a problem," Susan said. "Ginny said her parents and certainly her mother are Dumbledore's through and through. The best you could hope for is Dumbledore controlling Harry through his Mother-in-Law."
"Whom he still respects," Hermione added. "Ginny? You said you love Harry. Assuming this contract can't be avoided…"
"The potions, Hermione," Ginny said in a voice pleading that she would be believed. "It doesn't place restrictions on what kind! There are potions out there that make one very susceptible to suggestion and control, not unlike the imperious curse and, while it takes a real Master to make those, Dumbledore does have one in his pocket, right? The Ginny you know, Harry knows, I am and dream to be would be gone. The only hope for all of us begins with getting Harry and Neville out from Dumbledore's control and trained up proper, right? That means this contract must be avoided. The only way to do that is for me to die."
"WHAT?"
"Is that true?" Katie asked.
"It would void the contract," Daphne said. "Harry can't marry a dead person. It was a common way to avoid these types of contracts and, so long as neither Dumbledore nor Harry was implicated, there is no breach. But, it is hardly the only way to void the contract."
"I think we should not consider death as an option," Hermione said.
"I could start taking purgatives," Ginny said. "It wouldn't get me out of the contract, but at least I would be in my right mind. Then again, a proper draught would counteract all but the nastiest of potions."
"An option," Hermione agreed. "Not one that I like, but it's better than just giving up. Still, are there any other ways to get out of this contract?"
"The easiest way would be to replace Dumbledore as Harry's magical guardian before any irreversible steps are taken," Daphne said. "However, it is also probably impractical."
"How would it work, assuming it could be done?" Katie asked.
"The contract is between Ginny's parents and Dumbledore as Harry's guardian. It's not between Ginny's parents and Harry or House Potter. If Dumbledore ceases being Harry's magical guardian before the proposed marriage, the contract is voided. Harry and House Potter are not obligated to honor the contract independent of Dumbledore."
"I doubt Dumbledore would do us the favor of dying or stepping down," Hermione grumbled.
"Then what would be needed was someone with a better claim to Harry," Daphne said. "Does he have any godparents?"
"Sirius Black," Hermione said.
"Who's a fugitive," Daphne nodded. "As such he can't act as guardian. Does he have a godmother?"
"Alice Longbottom," Hannah said. "I looked that up over the Hols. But she and her husband are both confined to the Long Term Care Ward at St. Mungo's."
"Same problem," Daphne said. "Unless there is a Will out there that says otherwise, Godparents automatically become an orphaned minor's magical guardian unless they are legally unfit to serve as such, which is the case here. If Black were cleared of all charges against him, he would become Harry's magical guardian."
"I doubt that's going to happen," Hermione said. "What we learned about that trial shows that Dumbledore knows he is innocent and yet is at least partly behind his imprisonment. As head of the Wizengamot it would be little effort for him to clear up this matter, yet he does nothing."
"Even a Will is no guarantee," Lucinda added. "The monetary part of an Estate can be passed on by Gringotts as can most property. The Ministry of Magic has jurisdiction over the distribution of magical artifacts. It can block through seizure any heirlooms of a dark, magical nature. But the issue of orphaned children, to include custody and magical guardianships and such is handled through the Wizengamot. As Dumbledore controls the Wizengamot…"
"He could prevent that part of the Will from being enforced," Hermione nodded. "Certainly should it contain provisions that would in any way interfere with his control over Harry."
"The only other way to replace him as magical guardian is to have the Wizengamot declare him unfit," Daphne concluded.
"Again, as if that's gonna happen," Ginny groaned. "Why did I have to fall in love with someone else?" she moaned, and then shut her mouth looking embarrassed.
"Okay," Parvati said, "spill! Who's the bloke?"
"Don't even say Malfoy," Tracey said.
"Don't even joke about that," Ginny said. "Besides, I doubt he even likes girls."
"According to Pansy," Daphne said, "he swings both ways. She's part of his shag club with Crabbe, Goyle, Millicent Bulstrode and Desdemona Selwyn. Membership means you shag whoever's in the club without regard to their plumbing and preferably in groups."
"Okay, I really didn't need that image," Hermione said as several others groaned.
"Why'd she tell you that?" Rosie asked. "She should know you might use it against her."
Daphne shrugged. "She asked me to join last year. As I said before, I'm not into farm animals."
"Can we please get back to this contract?" Hermione pleaded.
"Sorry," Daphne said.
"So who is it, Gin?" Parvati pressed.
"Contract!" Hermione began.
"You need to lighten up just a tad, Hermione," Katie said gently. "Besides, something tells me this information could be helpful."
"Fine!" Hermione huffed.
"Well?" Parvati said looking at Ginny.
Ginny mumbled something.
"Excuse me?"
"ALRIGHT! It's Neville! He might deny it, but he's been my best friend since last year and tried to be first year when it seemed everyone else was ignoring me. Actually, I was ignoring everyone given things, but that's not the point! We've been studying together all the time for almost two years. He took me into Hogsmeade and to the Ball and even kissed me goodnight and I know he likes me and I know I love him, but he's such a boy about those things! AND BEFORE YOU ASK, WE HAVE NOT BEEN INSPECTING BROOM CLOSETS!"
"And Ron and the twins…?" Hermione began.
"Fred and George know," Ginny said. "They trust Neville and I trust them. I'm not about to tell Ron. He'd run straight to Mum and given this contract, I'd be soused on Harry joy juice before you can say Merlin."
"I take it you mean potions," Parvati said with a giggle.
"That's SO wrong!" Ginny replied blushing catching Parvati's subtle innuendo.
"I apologize for my sister," Padma said. "She spends far too much time with our class perv Lavender."
Hermione actually laughed. "Lavender has quite the collection of – erm – boy maintenance manuals, although were she to know about Malfoy's club, maybe that'd cure her."
"I'd appreciate it if you lot would keep quiet about that for now," Daphne said blushing. "I'm pretty sure they'd figure out how you lot found out and they can be quite nasty."
"Can we please get back to this contract?" Ginny asked. "Is there any way to get out of it?"
"Well, we can rule out getting rid of Dumbledore as Harry's magical guardian," Hermione said.
"And even if my parents changed their minds, unless Dumbledore does as well, they can't afford the penalties," Ginny said.
"And we can agree there's no reason to believe Dumbledore won't see this through?" Hermione offered.
The others all nodded.
"Are we stuck then?"
"There may be a way," Lucinda said. "It is - er - unusual and may well require some of us to make sacrifices we haven't been considering, but it could achieve our primary purpose of helping Harry and now Neville and get Harry and Ginny out from under that contract and Dumbledore and Ginny's mother's thumb. Basically, Harry and Neville - and Ginny for that matter - and maybe some of us as well need to become magically and legally emancipated."
"And how will that happen?" Daphne asked. "Dumbledore's acting as Harry's magical guardian and would need to approve. I doubt Ginny's parents would do that either, especially if they can't afford the consequences. I doubt there is a reason why Neville's family would allow it either. Without their approval, it's not going to happen."
"There is a way," Lucinda said. "First, however, I need to ask how many of you are under betrothal contracts like Ginny?" she said raising her own hand. Several other hands rose as well. Only the Muggle Borns, Daphne, Tracy and Gabrielle did not raise their hands.
"Right," Lucinda said. "Claws first. Laura? I take it's because your Muggle Born you're not raising."
"That's like from the Middle Ages," Laura said.
"Lisa then? How much do you know?"
"It's fairly open ended," Lisa replied. "So long as I'm not married or engaged otherwise by my twenty-first birthday, then it kicks in. His name is Rufus Scrimgeour. He's an Auror and such and forty-five and a total jerk. The only good thing I can say about him is he's not fat. Rather not marry at all, to be honest, but I'm almost as stuck as Ginny on this one."
"Luna?"
"I have until twenty-five to find a husband acceptable to Daddy," Luna replied. "After that, it's Rolf Scamander. He's a naturalist which is okay by me seeing as I wouldn't mind being one myself. His Grandfather was the author of One Thousand Magical Beasts and Where To Find Them. But he's old. He's even older than my Daddy and that bothers me to no end."
"Padma?"
"My sister and I are both betrothed to a man from India. We've met him. He's short, fat, bald, foul smelling and vile. We have until we're seventeen to find a way out. Both of us have to. If one can't, we go to that …"
"And our father is not likely to approve of anyone other than him," Parvati said with a frown. "And honestly! Why would I want to be married to the same man as my sister! That and we know he already has a Harem and is just looking for fresher concubines!"
"That closes out Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, unless Katie is betrothed," Lucinda said.
"Nope," Katie said.
"Susan?"
"Actually, my family has a contract with Neville's. I have until I'm twenty-one. We've been allied for ages and Neville's nice enough. I'm not sure I'd mind."
"Hannah?"
"Harry actually."
"What?" Hermione asked.
"It's like Susan's, Hermione. Don't worry. You can take Harry off the market, but if you don't I don't think I'd mind."
"And our guests?" Lucinda asked looking at the two girls from Beauxbatons."
"My forming bond negated any contracts, if zere were any," Gabrielle said.
"A business associate of my father," Michelle added. "He's a pig."
"And speaking for the Slytherins," Daphne said, "we're all in loathsome contracts but they have out clauses requiring us to become engaged to an acceptable lad, otherwise we're stuck with the contract. Given acceptable means Slytherin makes me ill, to be honest. I'd rather not have that contract see the light of day as my potential betrothed is totally vile!"
"It's not Malfoy, is it?" Parvati asked.
"My one small blessing," Daphne said. "He's betrothed to Parkinson. Were it me, I'd be expected to be a good Pureblood and do his bidding and that means be a member of his little shag club! I'd rather not."
"So what's any of this got to do with Harry?" Hermione asked.
"What I'm proposing," Lucinda said, "and assuming we can work out the details, might be beneficial to all of us as well."
"And what would that be?"
chapter 4
Saturday, March 11th, 1995
"I'll deal with the easy part first," Lucinda said. "This is the bit you will probably find the most acceptable."
Somehow, Hermione felt that meant totally unacceptable.
"Under our law code, if an underage witch gets pregnant by an underage wizard, they are semi-emancipated … maybe."
"WHAT?" Hermione said. "YOU'RE SAYING I HAVE TO GET PREGNANT?"
"No," Lucinda said. "One of us has too. Earlier we said you're the logical choice because he would probably accept that. If he got one of us pregnant, we're both semi-emancipated. We are considered adults solely until such time as we both agree to bond magically to raise the child as ours. If we sign a magically binding contract to that effect – remember for this purpose we are considered adults – then we're married and become fully emancipated."
"It's not foolproof," Daphne added. "Given what you told us about Sirius Black – and you have to suspect our illustrious Chief Warlock kept that business swept under a carpet – there's reason to believe he'd do something illegal like obliviate the two of you and get rid of the child. Technically, that's illegal in our world. Aborting a magical child is a ticket to Azkaban. But with political pull or going to the Muggles, that's not really a problem. Dumbledore could just blank our minds and get rid of the child and no one would be the wiser."
"Provided the Contract was not already recorded at Gringotts," Lucinda said. "Once that happens, there's no way to get around it."
"And were he to try like that …"
"He'd need to deal with the Goblins and probably wind up as a dragon snack. They don't take kindly to obliviations. But, that means the Contract would need to be recorded before he knew what was going on and were the pregnancy to be discovered here, that could be an issue. I didn't say this plan was perfect, but if successful it will achieve what we need to see done."
"It would also have to be known outside of Gringotts," Daphne said. "Probably by a fair few people and certainly by some Dumbledore didn't know about. Goblins don't usually share that sort of information so the Old Man might be able to keep it under wraps, unless he has reason to believe he can't possibly manipulate, control or obliviate everyone who knows."
"Either that or we find a way to keep it all secret until after the child is born," Lucinda said. "Once that happens, it's recorded in the Ministry Hall of Records naming the parents, whether they're bonded and would be in the next edition of the Daily Prophet. The law on this works. The bitch is in the mechanics and logistics of pulling it off without the Old Man being the wiser until it's too late."
"This would work for Neville and me too?" Ginny asked.
"What!" Hermione said, "why are you even thinking that?"
"'Cause if Neville got me pregnant like that, that contract Dumbledore made is void. I can't be considered primary wife material if I'm having a child by any man other than Harry. I'd be damaged goods and the bloodlines of any of our children considered suspect."
"What about you and Neville?"
"Assuming they bonded," Lucinda said, "it all depends on Susan's contract. She can't stop the marriage from happening, but she could trump Ginny as Lady Longbottom. But the primary effect is still the same. The contract between Ginny's parents and Dumbledore is void."
"Okay, now I'm really confused," Hermione said.
"You're not the only one," Marcia added.
"And interesting," Lucinda said. "The laws we're talking about were designed to protect bloodlines on the one hand and ensure our society was not overrun by unwed mothers and bastards on the other. They are old laws. I don't think a case has come up under this part of it in two hundred years. But that's because we can shag like bunnies 'til we can't walk and we won't get pregnant. Since our first month at Hogwarts, we all have a monthly with Madam Pomfrey and get a potion for female issues. You ever asked what it does?"
"I assumed it was for periods," Hermione said. "I'd already had my first one a couple months before."
"It's for that too. It also prevents conception. Each dose is good for three months, but fortunately the effects are not cumulative. Three months after you leave here – and all of us are seventeen or older by then – you're capable of getting pregnant. Until then, you're not."
"Then what is the point of this discussion?"
"The point is not the mechanics, but so show how the law can help us! We've already established the need to get Harry and Neville emancipated and the means to do it. Were we not concerned about Dumbledore, there would have been no real need to discuss how he might try to manipulate the situation, but it's something we need to deal with. Likewise, if we weren't on a contraceptive potions regimen, it would just be a question of getting shagged enough at the wrong time of our month. But we are so that's another mechanical issue we would need to work through.
"Right. So, to get them emancipated, we need to get them hitched given that no one who could do it for them will do it. Likewise, those same people probably wouldn't let them get hitched while they're underage anyway, so we needed away around that little problem. The law provides it where they get an under aged witch in a family way. That law allows them to marry the witch without much fuss, premarital publicity or permission of any parents or guardians. Once married, they are both fully emancipated. Without going into details as to how we get that far, will you at least accept that the law allows that?"
"I'd like to see it, but fine," Hermione said.
"Meet me in the Library after," Lucinda said. "Now going forward and assuming all those messy details are not a problem, and assuming you're carrying Harry's child, Ginny was right. We're not totally out of the woods. I assumed there were contracts out there because I also assumed you would be Harry's. You being a Muggle Born adds another wrinkle."
"What's that? You're saying despite all of that the law doesn't apply to Muggle Borns?"
"Oh it applies," Lucinda said. "But as Harry is the sole member of an Ancient and Noble House, he could be forced to accept another wife of – er – more acceptable station."
"So if I married him that way, he could be forced to divorce me anyway and then forced to marry another?"
"No, Hermione," Daphne said. "If your marriage is valid – and what Lucinda described could only be invalid if you were a Muggle or Harry's sister, half-sister or first cousin by blood, in which case the marriage would be annulled, then divorce is not really possible. What she's saying is Harry would wind up with two wives at the same time."
"But that's bigamy!" Andrea Lee said. "It's illegal!"
"That's a Muggle legal concept," Daphne began.
"And moral," Hermione retorted.
"And again Muggle," Daphne concluded. "Muggle Britain is Christian, yes? It's laws derive from that moral philosophy."
"And the wizarding world?"
"There are Christians," Lucinda said. "Mostly, they're Muggle Borns. Our history with that religion is not such that we are inclined to convert. Our culture and the laws it eventually created date to well before Christianity existed and when Rome was still a dusty little village that the rest of the world could easily forget. Ollivander's shop dates to 382 B.C. The major powers in Europe or influencing Europe were Persia and, to a lesser extent Egypt. Greece had beaten the Persians, but was still a disunited collection of city states. Rome had not expanded through all of Italy, much less beyond. This was before the wars with Carthage, Alexander the Great and all of that. Britain was Celtic and Druidic and it is from that lesser civilization that our culture and law derives and that culture did not prohibit plural marriages, they were just rare."
"Harems?" Katie asked.
"No," Daphne said. "That implies favoritism and a structure dominated by and suited to the husband without regard to the wives. While in some cultures, such an arrangement expects a husband to treat wives equally, he is the only one who legally matters. In most instances, there is but one real wife whom the law and culture truly protects. The rest are concubines, little more than slaves or, at best, live-in mistresses."
"Don't forget the marriage bond itself," Lucinda added.
"Ah yes!" Daphne said. "I really don't understand why they don't teach us that," she digressed. "We have to rely on our mothers and – well mine was pretty thorough but some… We're all witches. The marriage bond always involves a magical contract with the future spouse evidenced by the vows and such and a magical ritual."
"The wedding?" Katie asked.
"It may have no effect on a Muggle or very little, but it does affect us. It's one of the reasons why there's rarely a magical divorce. It won't make us love our husband, but it will at least make us more tolerant and more likely to get along with him. And no, it's not just us witches. A magical contract is a magical contract and a ritual is a ritual. It does something similar to the wizard."
"Don't get her wrong," Ginny said, "they still can disagree and my Mum can still fly off the handle at my Dad. As his personality is by nature less confrontational, he's just more likely to look at Mum's rant as her being her and not as something he need be concerned about personally. Likewise, my Mum is more likely to see my Dad's passivity as him being him as opposed to his not caring. But, if Dad does put his foot down, Mum shuts it although that's pretty rare."
"So the bond makes her take it?" Katie asked.
"No," Ginny said. "Least I don't think so. Her upbringing on the other hand would. She was raised a proper Pureblood girl and is trying to do the same with me. A proper Pureblood knows when to defer to her Pureblood or Noble husband."
"Guess she's failing miserably with you then," Parvati chided.
Ginny shrugged. "What can I say? I lose when I lose, not when someone tells me it's over."
The Pureblood and some of the magically raised witches chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Hermione asked.
"Ginny is strong willed," Luna said. "She always has been. But her will in a magical marriage might be something else."
Ginny nodded.
"What do you mean?"
"Remember," Lucinda said, "we're talking about magical contracts and rituals. Now, before you get upset, it doesn't totally change who we are as people. The magic binds us together but makes us accept that as well. Still, Ginny is strong willed. That won't change unless she herself changes naturally. But, as it is a magical compact, that tends to favor the more magically powerful one."
"Explain!" Hermione said.
"There's no such thing as a truly equal relationship," Lucinda replied. "There are truly mutual ones, but no truly equal ones. It is almost impossible to conceive of a relationship between two people where they are equally smart, equally forceful - or not so - and equal in all respects. Couples figure out when to stand up in a relationship and when to give in. If they truly respect each other, the lack of true equality is not an issue.
"But we're talking about marriages in our world: a magical contract for life bound by ritual. It mitigates some things. But the bottom line is this: in any magical contract, so long as the contract is honored, it is not the richer, smarter or more forceful personality who can be dominant. They can, but in the end they must submit to the true dominant partner."
"And who would that be?" Hermione asked.
"If one of them is decidedly more magically powerful than the other, that person is the dominant partner even if they seldom exercise it."
"Hermione," Parvati said, "you are the most powerful witch in this room and I dare say in this school, professors includes. My sister and I have a gift where we can tell such things. We almost never do, but we can. You're right up there with Dumbledore."
"Blowing that whole Pureblood crap right out the window," Daphne added. "You add in your intelligence and your drive - it's a wonder you were not sorted into Slytherin, but given your birth status… - anyway, it's no wonder you master spells so quickly. You're at the top of our class. Your intelligence makes you wicked smart on theory. But that does not explain the practical side. You're a right powerful witch, Hermione."
Before Hermione could respond, Padma stepped in. "But," she said, "as smart and powerful as you are, you're nothing compared to Harry and not much better as compared to Neville. They are scary powerful as compared to any of us. That they don't show it…"
"Neville's wand," Hermione said. "And as for Harry, his upbringing is an issue. His relatives," she all but hissed, "are vile people! He didn't even know his own name 'til he had to go to school! If he got better marks than his cousin … he never told me what they did except to say he tried not to." There were tears in her eyes by this point. "But what are you saying?"
"Were you to marry Harry," Lucinda said, "he would be the dominant partner."
"I … and why … is that a bad thing?"
"We've heard your stories," Daphne said. "He can be impulsive and he will rush off without thinking. He's a wonderful, kind boy and tops the list of 'boyfriend' potential. But his impulsiveness - so Gryffindor - is a potential problem. I'm not saying it should be suppressed, but it needs to be mitigated or he'll come to a bad end and with that prophecy, that is an issue!"
"In a Plural Marriage," Lucinda said, "his magic competes - for lack of a better word - against the magic of his wives. He may well listen to you, he has. But, he will ignore you if he believes he is right and, from what we've learned as part of this little club, he has from time to time. Harry can't have one wife. He's too powerful magically and his personality too dominant. Neville…"
"Who's about as powerful magically," Parvati added.
"…is not as dominant a personality," Lucinda said. "Still, he would benefit from a Plural Marriage as much as Harry."
"How?" Hermione asked.
"There is a saying that behind every great man is a great woman. There's also a saying that two minds are better than one. In a Plural Marriage, there's not just one woman helping her husband be more than he thought he could be. Likewise, unless he marries a bunch of total brain dead dolts… The Plural Marriage overcomes the normal stuff. A wife may be too weak in personality or magical power to curb her husband's baser instincts and vice versa. But, a true Plural Marriage, it becomes more of a collective. Magic and personality are less the issue between one person and the other as there are others whose personalities and magic can curb or override the issue. Basically, it's hard for one person to dominate the others in that form of relationship. The Plural Marriage is rumored to be very fulfilling to all within it."
"It almost sounds desirable," Katie said. "Almost. I take it there's a catch?"
"It fell out of practice," Lucinda said. "And, depending upon your point of view, there are catches. First, it only tends to work if the wizard is fairly powerful magically. Most wizards are not. The magical contracts would overwhelm them."
"Don't see a problem there," Parvati said. "Harry and Neville are way above the average."
Lucinda nodded. "It also was not allowed unless the combined family had sufficient resources to care for itself. Again, this is not a problem as House Potter and House Longbottom alone are very wealthy. Then there is the legal requirement that the marriage not distinguish based upon any factor unrelated to magic and … well, the wizard was not required to marry a witch he found unattractive. But, if he was going to have a plural marriage, the wives' birth status, blood status, social status and such could not be a factor. The law basically required that the wizard include a pureblood and a Muggle Born and a half-blood of some description. Finally there's the fact that the heir of such a family is always the first born son. It did not matter which wife gave birth to that son and disowning the son based upon his mother's birth status was against the law. Needless to say, given current attitudes that might cause a wealthy wizard some pause."
"That and the fact that the law supported that ban by making the wife legally at least at the same level as her husband," Daphne added. "A Muggle Born witch in a regular marriage remains a Muggle Born legally. Her husband can give her opportunities, but she is still a Muggle Born. In this example, as a Plural Wife she would cease being a Muggle Born legally and attain the same social status as her husband. Whatever barriers there were based upon her blood status would be removed."
"You said it fell out of practice," Hermione said. "That suggests in a way it didn't completely disappear."
"It hasn't happened in over a century or two," Lucinda said. "It was used from time to time. If a wizard's first wife had nothing but daughters, he had two choices. Bite back his attitude and enter a Plural Marriage and keep trying for a son or watch his line die out. Many chose the latter, although some the former from time to time."
"Ancient and Nobles Houses used it," Hannah said. "Ones like the Blacks would not have. They'd rather die than raise a half-blood or Muggle Born to instant high status. But there were others that were more concerned about their lines than their blood status. Lucinda said before that even if Harry was already married to you, he could be compelled to take another wife."
"How?"
"Well, it might be required by the family Will, if there was one," Hannah replied. "But, if there is a valid, betrothal agreement out there in favor of a – um – higher status witch, he could be pressured into it. Likewise, as the sole survivor of an Ancient and Noble Line, the contracts may require it. They do, in fact. Ginny's has no out clause for him. Hers can only be voided if she is no longer and acceptable match."
"In other words, if Neville were to knock me up," Ginny said.
"But it would not invalidate my contract," Hannah sighed.
"What?" Hermione asked in shock. "I thought you said it was an open contract."
"I don't believe I did," Hannah replied. "It is … sort of."
"Sort of?"
"When it was made, our parents were still alive but because of the war, they realized it was possible Harry and I could be the last of our lines. We were only children then and my father was the last Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Abbott. There are no others aside from me who are in the line of succession if he died before another child was conceived and he did. The contract contained a line continuation clause as a contingency. I would marry Harry after my twenty-first Birthday as his designated second wife – even if he still did not have a first – if I failed to marry a wizard who agreed to continue the Abbott line. Few would do that as they have to give up their name and any claims they may have by way of any inheritances from their family. As a second wife, our children would be Abbotts and not Potters. They would continue the line, but would have no claim with regard to House Potter unless Harry left them a bequest in his Will. Likewise, whoever his other wife would be would continue House Potter."
"Which forces a Plural Marriage," Lucinda said. "Which means a Pureblood House could demand he take a third, Pureblood wife to comport with the spirit of such a marriage and he would either spend years in litigation trying to argue otherwise, or be stuck."
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Again, assuming you're the first wife, he would have a Muggle Born and a Half-Blood as that's what the Abbotts are. The old custom suggested no distinctions based upon societal standards and right now that's blood status. Fortunately, political beliefs are not considered a criteria otherwise..."
Hermione and the others shuddered. They knew that probably meant a Pureblood daughter from a pro-Voldemort family.
"That means we either scrap this strange idea," Hermione said, "or go forward and allow both those contracts to self-execute or whatever…"
"The idea is to get Harry away from Dumbledore," Ginny protested. "I can't be part of that package! My family is too beholding to Dumbledore! I'm safe as a friend and wife of an ally, but not as a wife no matter what I want. My parents and especially my mother cannot be associated with Harry as legal family or we might as well do nothing, but we can't do nothing because by this time next year I might well be married to him anyway! Whatever we decide, my contract must be voided or we can't help Harry long term! And, if I am going to have to get preggers this young anyway, I'd rather it be Neville. I'm certainly not about to slut around."
"And my contract with House Longbottom is like Hannah's," Susan said. "It was not truly intended to make me a second wife, but given I was the last of my line if anything happened to my parents…"
"You're Aunt?" Hermione asked.
"She married my Uncle Edgar who was killed in the war."
"Oh." She turned to Lucinda. "You saw all this?"
"Not when I came here," Lucinda admitted. "The prophecy got me thinking about what that all meant and that this was about far more than just this silly tournament. Ginny's contract got me thinking about the voiding possibilities. When Hannah said she had a contract for Harry as well, I knew she was the last of her House and guessed she had a line continuation clause. That's what got me thinking plural marriages, which is why I have no idea about how to get around the non-legal problems."
"So your idea is some of us get pregnant and married?" Hermione asked. "How many?"
"I'd say as many as are willing from among us," Lucinda said. "We shouldn't pick and choose nor should we require it. Besides, due to those line continuation contracts, it would seem that Plural Marriage is all but inevitable for those two."
"I think we have to do this no matter what," Ginny said. "I wouldn't mind being Harry's wife, but you must know that would ruin him and I won't be a party to that. I'd prefer to think of Neville at this point. We need to void my family's contract with Dumbledore! That is critical! And the only way for that to happen is if I can't marry Harry. If Neville gets me pregnant, I know he'll do the right thing. Whether we can get Harry emancipated or not, that contract must be voided which means I must marry Neville!"
"And my parents will most likely try an arrangement between 'Arry and I," Gabrielle said. "I am Veela. He saved my life when I was not in a relationship. My magic is choosing him as a mate and, whether 'e chooses me or not, zat choice is for life. My parents will want 'im to choose me and 'ave the means to make it a desirable match."
"That and she's Veela, which means Harry will find her very attractive," Daphne said. "She uses that allure and…"
"Non," Gabrielle said. "I can assure you it will not 'ave the same effect on 'Arry as others. Fleur's has no effect on 'im."
"Still," Katie said, "he probably wouldn't kick her out of bed for eating scones. Considering he's not currently involved with anyone as far as we know, he probably would consider it."
Hermione nodded. "He probably would just to keep her from having a miserable life."
"And," Hannah said, "if Harry and Neville either became betrothed or married, it could trigger Susan and my families' contracts. While our contracts have an 'out' clause, they are very weak ones and all but unlikely. Given that our Houses are allied, my Mum could ask it to be honored and Harry would be expected to honor it."
"Which he would probably do," Hermione sighed. "So this Plural Marriage is more likely than not anyway?"
"So it appears," Lucinda said.
"Well that should make it easier for Harry to accept. I have no doubt he would not be in favor of this otherwise."
"Now we just need to figure out who the other wives will be," Lucinda said.
"Other wives?" Hermione asked in shock.
"The Line Continuation Contracts will create a Plural Marriage," Lucinda replied. "That, however, will still allow Dumbledore or his political enemies or both to pressure them into accepting wives from families loyal to those factions."
"Why?"
"Because the law allows for it. Remember, a Plural Marriage is not supposed to distinguish based upon bloodlines. If you get pregnant, for example, that could trigger Hannah's contract, but it only gives Harry a Muggle Born wife. To comply with the spirit of the law and custom, he would need a Pureblood and a Half Blood wife as well."
"But isn't Hannah one of those?"
"In a way, she does not count because her children by Harry would be House Abbott and not House Potter. The Purebloods would want a shot at the House Potter Heir and so would Dumbledore who, no doubt, would be pushing a malleable if not loyal Half Blood for certain. The only way to avoid that is to close that door tight. If, when this becomes public, Harry already has the required types of wives, his political enemies' hands are tied. He's emancipated and out from their control."
"At which point," Susan said, "we can see to it that both Harry and Neville receive the training they should have been getting all along."
"So both Harry and Neville will need four wives?" Hermione said.
"At least," Lucinda replied.
"AT LEAST?"
"Hermione," Luna said, "there are eighteen of us dedicated to helping Harry and now Neville as well. Five of us seem destined to be either Harry or Neville's wife - or one of them anyway. We need three more to close that door Lucinda spoke about and they should come from those here in this room whose loyalties we do know. Harry needs a Pureblood wife and Neville a Half Blood and a Muggle Born. But, should we be so limiting? Does it really make that much of a difference if Harry has more than four wives, especially if we know they are trustworthy? I'm not saying we all should be part of that, but we all should be given that chance if we want it and if we do we should not be denied that chance. It's only fair."
"We don't have to make this decision today, Hermione," Parvati added. "We may be a little rushed, but not that rushed. Besides, all of this is academic unless we can figure out the mechanics as Lucinda called them."
"You're right, we don't," Hermione said. "Once we cross that line there's literally no going back and, until we figure out how to cross it without Dumbledore stopping us, this is only a discussion. First of all, we're all on a birth control potion and until we're not, this idea can't even hope to succeed."
"Hermione?" Ginny interjected, "we need to do this somewhat fast. Harry turns fifteen this summer and sixteen next. He's to be married to me by the end of that summer if not sooner. Reading that contract, I wouldn't be at all surprised if my mother tried something this summer! It's my own fault! I told her I had feelings for a boy and it was not Harry!"
"And as if things couldn't be more complicated," Hermione sighed.