Ties Epilogue
Here it is. I would like to note, that while Hermione began this story, Severus insisted upon having the last word.
Epilogue ~ The Ties That Bind
There was an abandoned Daily Prophet on the kitchen table when Severus arrived home, but he barely gave it more than a glance to note that it had been read. He had already seen today’s paper and knew what it contained. The front page bore the headline Marriage Act 275 Repealed; Wizengamot Vote Unanimous in bold, black script. He sighed, noticing the abandoned cup of tea and utter stillness of the house. Of all the days to not be home, he doubted he could have found a worse one.
However, his absence had been unavoidable. Despite the freedom his new job afforded him, he did have monthly Research Committee meetings to attend. The few he had attended thus far were far and away more interesting than the staff meetings at Hogwarts had ever been. He enjoyed listening to what his colleagues were working on the results Healers were seeing with their developments. It was also an excellent venue for new ideas, as the Healers could also propose avenues of inquiry, which had already resulted in a full log’s worth of new projects in various stages of experimentation.
Today, the meeting seemed interminable. He knew the results of the Wizengamot inquest would be published, and he really wanted to be home. In addition to the weekend, Hermione had Tuesdays free. She had been home alone all day, and Severus felt badly that she had to face the news alone.
Sitting down at the table, Severus took the time to read the article in its entirety before he sought out Hermione. A subtitle on page A3 caught his attention.
What Happens Next: Rights of those who were wedded under Marriage Act 275
The Wizengamot has determined that those married against their will under this
unlawful act will be granted the option of divorce. There are, however,
difficulties which the Ministry will have to work around. The nature of the
Adulterous Charm used means that there is no option but to produce two children
with the original partner to negate the effects. A new branch of the Ministry
is to be established to deal with the fallout this will cause.
It has been recommended that:
a) All applications for divorce be granted.
b) The division of property it to be equivalent that of each party’s prenuptial
state. Monies and property acquired together are to be divided equitably.
c) All reports of abuse, both child and spousal, are to be investigated thoroughly.
d) Custody of children shall be determined on a case by case basis.
e) In the event that neither party wishes to retain custody, the Ministry shall be
responsible for finding proper and funding care.
f) Children remaining with their natural parents shall receive a monthly stipend
commensurate to the financial demands of their care and upbringing. This is to
be a fixed allowance and not determined by the financial means of the parents.
g) No party shall refuse means of nullifying the effects of the Adulterous Charm
without medical exemption. The Ministry shall be responsible for assisting
individuals who wish to use the services of St. Mungo’s over natural means of
conception.
h) The Ministry shall be held responsible for proper care of any unwanted children
resulting from the Marriage Act. The guidelines for proper care shall be
established by a joint committee consisting of members from the new Marriage Act
Reconciliation Commission, the Wizengamot and representatives from Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. No child is to be left wanting for adequate
care. It is the parents’ responsibility that these children are placed in care
through the appropriate channels. Failure to do so will result in a monetary
fine and a possible prison sentence.
i) Individuals who refused the Marriage Act shall have their licences reinstated
and wands replaced at the cost of the Ministry. A full pardon is to be granted.
j) All tracking spells resultant from the Marriage act are deemed unlawful and are
to be destroyed immediately.
k) Couples who wish to remain married are to file a letter of intent. Those who
file letters will have their marriage papers transferred into the main system
and will no longer be eligible for compensation under the Reconciliation
Commission. Letters of intent must be verified by both parties and will be
checked for spells of coercion.
Severus put down the paper and sat for several minutes listening to the silent house. It seemed most of the issues surrounding the Marriage Act had been considered and people put into place to deal with them. He truly hadn’t thought much on the issue of children since they had only briefly discussed the matter before they wed. Now that he considered it, there were going to be hundreds of children from these marriages, many that were unwanted. The fact that, as of yet, there was no other way to dissolve the Adulterous Charm meant that the problem was likely to get worse before it got better. He only hoped that no Tom Riddles arose from this massive Ministry blunder.
Carefully folding the paper, he left the kitchen to look for Hermione. After a quick search of the house, he left through the back door, certain she was one of two places. It was a cold November day, so she wasn’t likely down at the reading rock by the creek. That meant she was either in the greenhouse or the barn. With no obvious signs of her through the glass walls of the greenhouse, he moved towards the barn.
The door creaked loudly as he pushed his way into the dim interior. Two heads turned at the sound and he automatically gave a small bow. He received an answering bow from the large beaked animal laying on the floor. Hermione was sitting in the straw on the floor, leaning against the front shoulder of the hippogriff just before the wing joint. If she had been crying, the tears were long past, though she still seemed contemplative. Finding his own spot leaning against a straw bale, he eased himself to sit facing her.
She met his gaze and quirked a sad smile. “I think I actually understand why Sirius used to spend so much time sitting with Buckbeak. It’s quite soothing.”
“I can imagine.” He said, then paused before cautiously asking, “What are your thoughts?”
She shrugged. “I’m not certain what I expected, but what happened is as good as anything. No matter what was decided some people were bound to be unhappy about it.”
“Are you unhappy about it?”
“Not with most of it. I still don’t think a woman should be forced to have two babies just to let the man have his way out. There isn’t really a way around it, but providing a sample in a cup at St. Mungo’s is a lot less onerous than carrying a fetus to term.”
“True enough. I think there will be several files that will languish in Marriage Act files for that reason,” he observed.
She looked up at him and asked very softly, “And us?”
He took a long moment to watch her expression before he answered. “The answer is the same as it was yesterday, Hermione.”
“I ... I’ve already got a letter of intent started up in my office,” she said hesitantly.
Severus moved to kneel in front of her and took her hands in his. He lifted her left hand and placed a small kiss on her knuckles, letting his lower lip catch on the ring he had given her just a few short months ago. He looked up to see her lower lip trembling and her eyes glistening. She cast herself into his arms, burying her face into his shoulder. She wasn’t crying, but holding onto him as if her life depended on it. He wrapped his arms around her, gently stroking her back.
He tilted his head so he could whisper in her ear. “I love you, Hermione, no matter how it came about.”
She nodded against him and mumbled, “I’m ready to put this behind me. Behind us.”
Standing slowly, he put out his hand and pulled Hermione to her feet. She smiled more steadily and gave Buckbeak a gentle pat on his feathered neck before turning to leave the barn with him. He carefully secured the door against the sharp gusts of the early winter winds and held her close to him as they walked back to the house.
Just outside the back door, Severus tilted her chin up and placed a kiss on her lips hot enough to dispel the chill of the November wind whipping their hair wildly around them. Even buffeted by the elements, they embraced for a long time on the back step, content to ignore the world around them. Finally breaking apart, Severus looked at his wife, watching the unrestrained strands of her hair dance around her face. He marvelled at how much his life had changed and how far he had come from his lonely, solitary existence in the Hogwarts dungeons. Now, he was happier and more content, than he had ever envisioned.
“Welcome home,” Severus murmered. The door clicked open, and he drew her inside with the beginnings of a smile playing on his lips and a warm spark glittering in his dark eyes.
***
Final A/N ~ Thank you everyone who joined me on this novel writing adventure and put up with me over the many years it took to complete. Since I began writing this piece, I am truly blown away by how enduring this challenge has been. Even recently, there are still new Marriage Law fics popping up. However, for me this story goes beyond the label of 'challenge fic.' The marriage challenge has become a cliché all its own, but I think, given what JKR provides us with, the government she establishes is fully capable of such a thing. (Or would be, if her novels were 'adult'.) Perhaps that's the appeal of this challenge. It removes the element of control of something we today feel is a fundamental right. I think the right to love and marry whomever you wish is something that resonates deeply with many and it is painful to think that choice could be taken from us.
I would like to think that it makes sense on its own, for all it got the seed (or rabid bunny as the case may be) from a challenge.
And with that, I shall get down off my soapbox. Thank you once again for reading. It is immensely pleasing to know so many people not only stuck with this story, but also enjoyed it enough to let me know. And for those of you who are lurkers, I know you are there and would like to thank you too.
Most Sincerely,
Gfeather
Chapter 41
Epilogue ~ The Ties That Bind
There was an abandoned Daily Prophet on the kitchen table when Severus arrived home, but he barely gave it more than a glance to note that it had been read. He had already seen today’s paper and knew what it contained. The front page bore the headline Marriage Act 275 Repealed; Wizengamot Vote Unanimous in bold, black script. He sighed, noticing the abandoned cup of tea and utter stillness of the house. Of all the days to not be home, he doubted he could have found a worse one.
However, his absence had been unavoidable. Despite the freedom his new job afforded him, he did have monthly Research Committee meetings to attend. The few he had attended thus far were far and away more interesting than the staff meetings at Hogwarts had ever been. He enjoyed listening to what his colleagues were working on the results Healers were seeing with their developments. It was also an excellent venue for new ideas, as the Healers could also propose avenues of inquiry, which had already resulted in a full log’s worth of new projects in various stages of experimentation.
Today, the meeting seemed interminable. He knew the results of the Wizengamot inquest would be published, and he really wanted to be home. In addition to the weekend, Hermione had Tuesdays free. She had been home alone all day, and Severus felt badly that she had to face the news alone.
Sitting down at the table, Severus took the time to read the article in its entirety before he sought out Hermione. A subtitle on page A3 caught his attention.
What Happens Next: Rights of those who were wedded under Marriage Act 275
The Wizengamot has determined that those married against their will under this
unlawful act will be granted the option of divorce. There are, however,
difficulties which the Ministry will have to work around. The nature of the
Adulterous Charm used means that there is no option but to produce two children
with the original partner to negate the effects. A new branch of the Ministry
is to be established to deal with the fallout this will cause.
It has been recommended that:
a) All applications for divorce be granted.
b) The division of property it to be equivalent that of each party’s prenuptial
state. Monies and property acquired together are to be divided equitably.
c) All reports of abuse, both child and spousal, are to be investigated thoroughly.
d) Custody of children shall be determined on a case by case basis.
e) In the event that neither party wishes to retain custody, the Ministry shall be
responsible for finding proper and funding care.
f) Children remaining with their natural parents shall receive a monthly stipend
commensurate to the financial demands of their care and upbringing. This is to
be a fixed allowance and not determined by the financial means of the parents.
g) No party shall refuse means of nullifying the effects of the Adulterous Charm
without medical exemption. The Ministry shall be responsible for assisting
individuals who wish to use the services of St. Mungo’s over natural means of
conception.
h) The Ministry shall be held responsible for proper care of any unwanted children
resulting from the Marriage Act. The guidelines for proper care shall be
established by a joint committee consisting of members from the new Marriage Act
Reconciliation Commission, the Wizengamot and representatives from Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. No child is to be left wanting for adequate
care. It is the parents’ responsibility that these children are placed in care
through the appropriate channels. Failure to do so will result in a monetary
fine and a possible prison sentence.
i) Individuals who refused the Marriage Act shall have their licences reinstated
and wands replaced at the cost of the Ministry. A full pardon is to be granted.
j) All tracking spells resultant from the Marriage act are deemed unlawful and are
to be destroyed immediately.
k) Couples who wish to remain married are to file a letter of intent. Those who
file letters will have their marriage papers transferred into the main system
and will no longer be eligible for compensation under the Reconciliation
Commission. Letters of intent must be verified by both parties and will be
checked for spells of coercion.
Severus put down the paper and sat for several minutes listening to the silent house. It seemed most of the issues surrounding the Marriage Act had been considered and people put into place to deal with them. He truly hadn’t thought much on the issue of children since they had only briefly discussed the matter before they wed. Now that he considered it, there were going to be hundreds of children from these marriages, many that were unwanted. The fact that, as of yet, there was no other way to dissolve the Adulterous Charm meant that the problem was likely to get worse before it got better. He only hoped that no Tom Riddles arose from this massive Ministry blunder.
Carefully folding the paper, he left the kitchen to look for Hermione. After a quick search of the house, he left through the back door, certain she was one of two places. It was a cold November day, so she wasn’t likely down at the reading rock by the creek. That meant she was either in the greenhouse or the barn. With no obvious signs of her through the glass walls of the greenhouse, he moved towards the barn.
The door creaked loudly as he pushed his way into the dim interior. Two heads turned at the sound and he automatically gave a small bow. He received an answering bow from the large beaked animal laying on the floor. Hermione was sitting in the straw on the floor, leaning against the front shoulder of the hippogriff just before the wing joint. If she had been crying, the tears were long past, though she still seemed contemplative. Finding his own spot leaning against a straw bale, he eased himself to sit facing her.
She met his gaze and quirked a sad smile. “I think I actually understand why Sirius used to spend so much time sitting with Buckbeak. It’s quite soothing.”
“I can imagine.” He said, then paused before cautiously asking, “What are your thoughts?”
She shrugged. “I’m not certain what I expected, but what happened is as good as anything. No matter what was decided some people were bound to be unhappy about it.”
“Are you unhappy about it?”
“Not with most of it. I still don’t think a woman should be forced to have two babies just to let the man have his way out. There isn’t really a way around it, but providing a sample in a cup at St. Mungo’s is a lot less onerous than carrying a fetus to term.”
“True enough. I think there will be several files that will languish in Marriage Act files for that reason,” he observed.
She looked up at him and asked very softly, “And us?”
He took a long moment to watch her expression before he answered. “The answer is the same as it was yesterday, Hermione.”
“I ... I’ve already got a letter of intent started up in my office,” she said hesitantly.
Severus moved to kneel in front of her and took her hands in his. He lifted her left hand and placed a small kiss on her knuckles, letting his lower lip catch on the ring he had given her just a few short months ago. He looked up to see her lower lip trembling and her eyes glistening. She cast herself into his arms, burying her face into his shoulder. She wasn’t crying, but holding onto him as if her life depended on it. He wrapped his arms around her, gently stroking her back.
He tilted his head so he could whisper in her ear. “I love you, Hermione, no matter how it came about.”
She nodded against him and mumbled, “I’m ready to put this behind me. Behind us.”
Standing slowly, he put out his hand and pulled Hermione to her feet. She smiled more steadily and gave Buckbeak a gentle pat on his feathered neck before turning to leave the barn with him. He carefully secured the door against the sharp gusts of the early winter winds and held her close to him as they walked back to the house.
Just outside the back door, Severus tilted her chin up and placed a kiss on her lips hot enough to dispel the chill of the November wind whipping their hair wildly around them. Even buffeted by the elements, they embraced for a long time on the back step, content to ignore the world around them. Finally breaking apart, Severus looked at his wife, watching the unrestrained strands of her hair dance around her face. He marvelled at how much his life had changed and how far he had come from his lonely, solitary existence in the Hogwarts dungeons. Now, he was happier and more content, than he had ever envisioned.
“Welcome home,” Severus murmered. The door clicked open, and he drew her inside with the beginnings of a smile playing on his lips and a warm spark glittering in his dark eyes.
***
Final A/N ~ Thank you everyone who joined me on this novel writing adventure and put up with me over the many years it took to complete. Since I began writing this piece, I am truly blown away by how enduring this challenge has been. Even recently, there are still new Marriage Law fics popping up. However, for me this story goes beyond the label of 'challenge fic.' The marriage challenge has become a cliché all its own, but I think, given what JKR provides us with, the government she establishes is fully capable of such a thing. (Or would be, if her novels were 'adult'.) Perhaps that's the appeal of this challenge. It removes the element of control of something we today feel is a fundamental right. I think the right to love and marry whomever you wish is something that resonates deeply with many and it is painful to think that choice could be taken from us.
I would like to think that it makes sense on its own, for all it got the seed (or rabid bunny as the case may be) from a challenge.
And with that, I shall get down off my soapbox. Thank you once again for reading. It is immensely pleasing to know so many people not only stuck with this story, but also enjoyed it enough to let me know. And for those of you who are lurkers, I know you are there and would like to thank you too.
Most Sincerely,
Gfeather
Chapter 41