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"Woman" Series, HG/AW	By : Remarkable Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 45674 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I own nothing pertaining to the Harry Potter fandom and make no money from the publication of this fiction.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
This was a tricky chapter to write. There are no intimacies (sorry) but I needed to segue and add important plot in here. Most is from Arthur's point of view. You will see interplay that has directly to do with the heart of the story and this chapter is meant to take you to the place where Arthur's heart truly resides. Please read and review it means the world to me. Thank you to those that do leave reviews, I cherish them, truly. Koolgirl, hang in there. Lots of good stuff to come. To the reviewer who didn't like where I took the story. *shrugs* I can't please everyone and it is rated and has warnings in it for a good reason. Heed those in future, please. *I just edited for some clarification in a few parts, no major changes.*

A Woman Defended

Kingsley Shacklebolt was in a rage. Many had seen him angry; rarely had they seen him ready to throttle the living daylights out of anyone that got in his way as he appeared to look that morning. Like a bull in a china shop, the large, black Deputy Minister thundered down the hall to the office of Lucius Malfoy, the Daily Prophet practically squashed in his powerful left hand. He was about to fling open the door when he heard the unmistakable sounds of raised voices, and two he knew very well, but rarely raised as they were, and never at one another.

“Goddamnit Lucius, she’s only a girl!”

“Yes, one who is of age and of perfectly sound mind to make her own decisions as to whom she shares physical relations!”

Kingsley’s fist tightened around the paper, his eyebrows rising in surprise, ear flush against the door.

“You mean a girl of age to be taken advantage of, don’t you?” countered Arthur’s gruff accusation.

Lucius’ voice lowered so Kingsley almost wasn’t able to hear it, but a nifty little amplification charm did a nice job wrangling it into clarity.

“Come now, Mr. Weasley, surely we can settle this like gentlemen? Say, ten thousand galleons?”

“That’s your answer to everything, isn’t it Malfoy. Money is as much your Mistress as any one of the women you’ve ever used and discarded like so much rubbish.”

“How dare you make such dastardly assumptions!” Lucius practically shrieked. “My personal life is none of your concern!”

“It becomes my concern when you are fucking one of my employees and have them sent to hospital!”

“As I said before, Mr. Weasley, I’ve no idea what you’re on about. I’ve no more sent your precious Granger to hospital then I have my own flesh and blood.”

“She disappeared right after Hermione disclosed to me the nature of her so-called physical relations with you, one-sided as that seemed to be from my point of view. Kingsley won’t tell me a damn thing, and you insist on blowing smoke up my backside at every turn.”

“I still fail to see how you have come to the conclusion that I preserve any more information than you at the present time.”

The sound of papers being flung and a curse rang out.

“The Prophet speaks loud and clear today, doesn’t it, editor Malfoy?”

“Rubbish! I’ve nothing to do with what’s in print.”

“Yet, you don’t deny the contents.”

“How can I deny what I do or do not know to be truth?”

“Then why allow it to be printed?”

“Surely, you don’t believe that I’ve anything to do with the content as your continued presumption assails?”

“Would you, for once in your life, just give me a goddamn straight answer and tell me why you are doing this to her?”

Kingsley had heard enough. He drew in a deep breath and let it out as he flung the door open to Lucius’ office without ceremony.

The heated gesticulating and raised voices came to a cold halt when a red-faced Malfoy and beet colored Arthur Weasley turned in unison to meet the equally murderous face of Shacklebolt.

Arthur visibly swallowed, taking a step back and pointing a finger at Malfoy.

“This son-of-a-bitch caused this! You know he’s got his filthy fingers in everyone’s pocket down at the Prophet!”

“You listen to me you Muggle-loving piece of shit!” Lucius raged in retaliation.

Kingsley’s bulk towered over the two tall men, Lucius broad shouldered and lithe, Arthur tall and stocky with some middle age bulk, but Kingsley built like a brick shithouse. It was a toss-up who would win in a duel between the three men, but in a brawl, Kingsley would kick both of their asses’ hands-down.

“Gentlemen.” The deep voice boomed throughout the ostentatious office, seeming to rattle the glass of the windows. Arthur was sure the floor under his feet vibrated in fear just a bit, as well.

The instant Kingsley spoke one hundred percent of arguing was suspended like so many flies in a web.

The Deputy brandished the Prophet before him as he would a weapon. “So help me, Lucius Malfoy, if I find that you are responsible for this slanderous trash defiling Miss Granger I’ll not only have your job but see you on House arrest pending a full investigation.

Lucius shot him a beautiful sneer that would have put Severus to shame. “With all due respect, Deputy Minister,“ he spat as if the title offended him, soiling his tongue as an epithet, “to think I would engage in petty hyperbole surrounding a Ministry employee I’ve sworn to uphold during a time of great distress is purely nonsensical. Surely you realize how ludicrous such an accusation sounds considering my already precarious position?”

Kingsley could tell Arthur was bursting to speak. With an impatient wave of a hand he indicated for the other man to have his say.

With an accusatory look at a sniffing Malfoy, who was currently inspecting his nails as if he hadn’t a care in the world (in front of Kingsley, at least,) he stated, “I’ve entrusted Mr. Malfoy with sensitive information that could only have come from either I or him. There is no way I would ever betray such a confidence as I’ve had toward Miss Granger, protecting her as I would a daughter from her first year on. You see before you a traitorous, lying scum!”

Kingsley was shocked at the vehemence behind Arthur’s words. The man was normally fun-loving and mild mannered. To see him so apoplectic and passionate about his accusations certainly warranted a look into the depth of truth behind them. Arthur Weasley had never reason to lie before; Kingsley had no reason to suspect he would do so now.

With a stern gaze at both men, Kingsley came to a decision.

“Neither of you will speak further of this today. If anyone approaches you concerning the matter direct them to me; my office, four o’clock that will be all, gentlemen. Arthur, please return to your duties.”

With a slight bow and a scathing look back at Malfoy, the elder Weasley turned on a firm heel and left the office.

Lucius smirked after the man’s retreating back.

The blond aristocrat’s haughty, smug manner grated on Kingsley’s nerves. Rotten; that was what he felt in his very bones the man before him had festering inside, something terrible and rotten.

“Malfoy.”

The icy-grey eyes settled on Kingsley’s deep brown ones.

“Shacklebolt.”

Very few men could get away with calling Kingsley by his last name alone, and Malfoy was not one of them.

“With all due courtesy, which you do not afford me, Sir,” Kingsley mimicked Malfoy’s countenance, “you are hereby suspended from duty without pay until further notice pending a formal investigation, despite what I just said in front of Mr. Weasley. That was only to save your ungrateful public face. I advise counsel for you, Mr. Malfoy. The Minister does not take lightly to such public slander of Ministry business and unfounded accusations.”

“Unfounded, bah! As if I care what a Weasley, the Minister or anyone else thinks of me! I may own the majority of shares in the Prophet, but contrary to popular opinion I do not sift through everything that is printed, so do not throw the ingredients out with the cauldron,” Lucius spat, whirling and gripping the edge of his expensive desk. “It’s not I that will be sacked at the tail end of your investigation, Deputy Minister. On the contrary, your precious Granger is every bit the whore the story depicts.”

Kingsley shook with rage and barely restrained disgust. “I trust you have personal knowledge of these so-called escapades to warrant proof of such accusations?”

Lucius turned sharply and gave Kingsley a cold, crocodile-like smile. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Of all the times Arthur had been to Hogwarts, he’d never felt as fiercely protective, apprehensive and disgusted as he did right at that moment. Within those four walls was a man who had begun the downhill spiral that was poisoning the second love of his life. If it was the last thing he ever did, this was going to stop tonight. Neither Lucius Malfoy nor Severus Snape would ever lay a hand on Hermione ever again, even if he had to kill them both, or die trying. Kingsley might refuse to let him see her, but neither would the other two reap the opportunity, either.

Determined strides took him quickly, after a brief chat with Hagrid and then a questioning Minerva as to the nature of his visit, down to the dungeons and in front of Severus Snape’s office.

“Enter,” bade the silken tones of Professor Snape, even before his knuckles had risen to rap on the aged wooden door.

Arthur entered; one raised brow the only indication Snape was mildly surprised to see him.

“By all means, make yourself comfortable, Mr. Weasley,” he sneered, his usual countenance cold and critical, as always.

“I’d rather skip the pleasantries if that’s alright with you, Severus,” the redhead deadpanned.

Snape gently, calculatingly, precisely laid his quill on a badly-marked parchment, removed his reading glasses and rose to his full height.

“I’m a very busy man. What is it that you want?”

Thank God Severus didn’t beat around the bush, unlike Malfoy, who’d nearly driven him ‘round the bend with his mind games and turning questions around to suit his own ends.

“I want you to leave off Hermione.”

Severus didn’t seem to be at all shocked by this turn of events, but it was hard to discern what lay beneath the exterior of a man who’d been subjected to Voldemort’s scrutiny for the better part of two decades.

“She’s come to me willingly.”

“She’s come to you to discuss business, and you took advantage!”

“Ah, but do you know the nature of her private business? But you must, seeing as you are here. Then you know more than I, for she came unannounced and said nothing to me of the matter.”

Snape swished around to the front of his desk, toe-to-toe with the man who’d interrupted his grading.

“So the question remains, what business is it of yours with whom Miss Granger liaises, hmmm?”

“She is my employee, and like a daughter to me. You know how much time she’s spent with our family.”

“Ah yes, your precious family,” Snape sneered magnificently, his glittering black eyes almost seeming to read into Arthur’s very soul. “The precious, prodigal son who abandoned Miss Granger to her own devices, and being the jilted lover, she’s turned to the arms of her former Professor. You’ve failed to convince me of her insincerity.”

Arthur tried another tack. “She was your student, have you no shame?”

Like a cat who’d gotten the cream Snape moved in for the kill, “She’s like a daughter to you, have you none of your own?”

A stalemate; each man knew of the other’s involvement with the young woman of topic. Pale eyes like the sky after a storm met glittering black onyx. The men stared one another down, neither perturbed or giving an inch.

At long last, Arthur sighed in defeat. If Severus wanted to break him down publicly there was nothing he could do about it. It was a foregone conclusion that all of their lives would change irrevocably once their relationship became public.

“Just- leave her alone. After what appeared today in the Prophet I can’t imagine she’s going to be in the best state of mind as it is.”

“Miss Granger has always been in the limelight. It’s never shaken her confidence before, I cannot fathom the girl’s endless reserve of gumption would run out prematurely because of Rita Skeeter’s blathering, licentious, and clearly fraudulent article.”

“Hermione is more vulnerable than you think. She’s in hospital, Severus, she’s ill.”

The sneer melted from the Potion master’s face, replaced by what could searchingly be called concern.

Feigning disinterest and failing miserably, Snape wandered to his office fireplace and warmed his hands before it. “What’s happened to Minerva’s precious Lion cub? Get herself in a spot of trouble with Potter again, has she?” The words held what were meant to be sarcasm, without any real heat.

“I have reason to believe Lucius has hurt her. Kingsley’s keeping her condition close to the vest, won’t let anyone in to see her. He says it’s a matter of Ministry security.”

Severus was silent. Arthur was curious to wait him out, almost able to hear the wheels turning in the Slytherins head.

“I’ve no wish to see her harmed.”

Snape spoke softly, almost to himself, but just loud enough for Arthur to hear.

“When you receive word you’ve only to owl for whatever she may need.”

“Your word to leave her be?”

Snape turned, his robes billowing in their trademark manner as he did so. Severus had no idea why he suddenly cared so for the young woman. He’d no real incentive to go out of his way for her, and especially for any of the Weasley’s. However…… the mention of Lucius’ involvement struck an odd chord within him. His former best mate had grown distant while feigning friendship since the end of the war, often becoming obsessed with trivial or random topics, events long since passed and clinging to the old Pureblood views as if they were his salvation. It grated on his nerves and Severus longed to be free from the vestiges of a past that only kept a tenuous hold as long as he allowed Malfoy to remain in his life.

Change was in the air. Severus could feel it in his blood. His spy senses were tingling. A cold, heartless bastard he was, but a good mystery and self-preservation took precedence above all else. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but now that he thought back to some of his recent conversation’s with his ‘old friend’, and the subsequent visit from Arthur, certain comments and events weren’t adding up. What game was Lucius playing at this time? Why involve the girl? Irrelevant as it seemed, Weasley seemed to care for the girl in more than a passing manner. Severus had had his heart rendered cold, lifeless by a witch once-upon-a-time. A sliver of that brokenness still held true that not all romance need die in the world as it had in his own.

The long silence was broken by his affirmation to Arthur. “You have my word.”

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“Just where have you been?”

Arthur really, really, really didn’t need this at this point in time. He’d had a long day with his confrontations over Hermione, the meeting with Shacklebolt that had yielded no real answers as far as he was concerned, mostly addressing their public stance toward the slander in the paper and their approach to dealing with it, and the stress of re-distributing Hermione’s workload until he could hire a substitute or have her back on staff.

He didn’t answer Molly, simply shrugging out of his robes and wandering into the kitchen for something leftover to eat. His respite didn’t last.

“I asked you a question, Arthur Weasley, just where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you to come home. We were supposed to meet Ginny and Harry for a late tea but of course, you never showed, without so much as a by-your-leave or any other such courtesy. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Arthur was tired of it, he really was. He was tired of the constant nagging, crying, inability to be effectual in his own home, spurned by his superiors for knowledge of his beloved (not that they knew that was what ailed his worried mind), and all of the lying and sneaking around. A wizard could only take so much and he’d reached his breaking point.

Arthur threw the hunk of cheese back onto the counter beside the bread and turned.

“Molly, do you really want to know what I’ve got to say for myself?”

Molly folded her arms, expecting him to capitulate in some manner. She was rudely surprised by his answer.

“I’m leaving. Tonight. I want a divorce.”

And with that, he breathed a great sigh of relief, brushing past his stunned wife and up the stairs to pack. It took him all of five minutes to shrink and store what he need. Without further ado he was out the door and off to the Leaky to rent a room until he could find a more permanent place to stay, and this time, hopefully with his love.

Arthur was done hiding from the world, damn them all for all he cared. He just hoped Hermione was on board as well.
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"Woman" Series, HG/AW