Chapter Text
In 1917, the British Ministry of Magic helped develop and pass a “Pure-blood Propagation Program” in which pure-blooded families could sign up their children to receive an arranged marriage with other pure-bloods who signed up for the program.
For each child a family signed up for the act, they would receive a series of payments: A decent amount of 5,000 Galleons when they signed up, a small handful to pay for the actual wedding itself (of around 500 Galleons), and a small fortune for each child produced from the coupling (of 10,000 Galleons for the first, 8,000 for the second, and 5,000 for each child thereafter). The couple themselves received: 1,000 Galleons at the assignment; a stipend of 50 Galleons a month for each month they remained engaged or wed while in the trial period, with a maximum of 26 months (as each couple received their assignment in June of their 5th year and were to be wed by end of August after they graduated their 7th year); a wedding present of another 1,000 Galleons, and then 15,000 Galleons for the first child, 12,000 for the second, and 10,000 for each child thereafter.
The Program was partially funded by the government to promote the expansion of the dwindling blood-purity (they took the stance of promoting more options for different pure-blood mixes and also putting out more children to allow these families to be okay with one or two half-blood branches, though everyone knew it was because the Minister at the time was a blood-supremacist), but it was mostly funded by pure-bloods who donated to the program. They were the pure-bloods who either wanted a leg up in the world by potentially being tied to a more illustrious pure-blood family or pure-bloods who believed in blood-purity. Whatever the reason, the program had plenty of money to fund the endeavour, and it ran smoothly for a while.
The families who signed up children, usually one or two at least, were at a silent agreement that a penalty would occur if one of the coupling decided to leave before an heir was produced. The penalty was usually money, money that the family would be missing out on if the couple had at least one child, but sometimes it was more serious: they would have to give up another child to the coupling or they would enter a very not-so-legal servicing. Sometimes, these families got around that penalty by offering up a House Elf or two, but other times… well, then they would be indentured servants until they had a child who could be coupled.
So far, there were around 70 families who had signed up for the program. At the end of the students’ 5th year, they would find out their coupling. It was a random shuffle among the names. They were told after their OWL exams, so they could plan their NEWTs classes with their partner, to shape their futures and their careers. For instance, a partnership was less likely to work if one partner wanted to be an auror and the other a free-lance curse-breaker. There needed to be some overlap, and that was for them to figure out when they picked their classes for 6th and 7th years.
~ * ~
In 1943, Charlotte Hotchner sat at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall. Her back was straight, her legs crossed at the knees, and her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her long, silvery hair was straight as a rail and flowing over her shoulders, down her back, and gently brushing against her elbows. Her eyes were unamused and unhappy; the gleam that occasionally made her peridot coloured irises sparkle had completely abandoned her. Her lips, perfectly painted with a rich, burgundy lipstick which stopped at crisp edges, were pursed ever so slightly.
There was an air around Charlotte that seemed all too chilly. Maybe it was the way her eyebrows were always slightly furrowed, turning her chilled look into a glare. Maybe it was the way she begrudgingly spoke, only ever after being spoken to. Maybe it was the way she had swept herself into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the middle of the current school year, an American transplant in her 5th year. It was an unusual case, especially seeing as it was common for boarding schools to have students from other countries--and it would be especially easy for a magical student. However, Charlotte’s father went to Hogwarts, as did the rest of his family, so when they moved back to his family home in North-West England, he insisted that they transfer to avoid yet another incident.
Maverick Hotchner was a newly appointed Wizengamot with the British Ministry of Magic. His father had died the year previous, leaving the position open for a successor. Maverick, who had taken a spot in the American embassy the year after he graduated Hogwarts, eagerly accepted the position when it was offered. He missed being at home with his family, and this was the perfect time to go back. So he packed up his wife, Helena, and his daughters, Charlotte and Elizabeth, and moved back to his hometown of Overton, Morecambe, England. His home, specifically, was on the coast of the Morecambe Bay and basically on Sunderland Point (and yes, he says he lives on Sunderland Point).
Maverick Hotchner was worried that one of his plethora of enemies would try and kidnap his daughters for a ransom. And by that, he meant he was worried that someone would dare harm a little blonde hair on Elizabeth’s head. He was less concerned about Charlotte’s well-being because, in his own words, Charlotte was unbecoming of a proper Hotchner. And by that he meant Charlotte was a no-maj sympathizer who wanted to be her own, independent woman rather than a blood purist homemaker.
It was Helena Hotchner who suggested signing her daughter up for the Program. Said that it would lessen the odds of her choosing a “less than ideal” blood type. Not to mention the money was well worth it. Helena’s father, Emilio, was less than pleased with the decision, but he couldn’t do anything about it but support Charlotte. He himself had 2 daughters, who gave him 5 grandchildren, and he wasn’t going to do anything to risk not seeing them again. Helena didn’t know about the deal.
So Charlotte sat at the end of the Slytherin table, close to her Slytherin classmates that she had gotten to know over the last 6 months of being there. She had started at the school after they came back from winter break, and she had done the sorting hat ceremony in the privacy of Headmaster Dippet’s office with her sister--also sorted into Slytherin though year 4--and each of the heads of houses. School had been a flurry of classes--familiar classes but unfamiliar teachers and waves of casting magic--and getting to know her housemates--familiar teen drama but unfamiliar names.
“Attention, please,” Headmaster Armando Dippet called out as he strode into the hall. They were seated at the ends of the house tables, mixed and mingled, closest to the Head Table. There were all five 5th year Slytherin girls there, as well as two Ravenclaw girls. There were three Slytherin boys, two Gryffindors, and one from both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Charlotte scrutinised the Ministry official who came with Dippet, a severe looking pureblood witch who undoubtedly went through the program herself. The official cleared her throat.
“I will be calling the girls signed up for the program alphabetically by surname. When I call your name, please come up to receive your flower. The flower will then reveal to you the name of your assigned partner.” She adjusted the reading glasses on her sharp beak of a nose and read the first name on the list. “Abbott, June.”
Abbott, June was one of those girls who just looked like she would be a pure-blood purist. Her strawberry blonde hair was stark straight and flowed down to her waist in a solid waterfall, and she always stared those marble grey eyes down her nose at those around her. Charlotte found June to be the most like her mother Helena of all the girls. She was a “proper lady”... a proper lady who drank like she had an empty leg and snorted when she laughed too hard. She strode forward and accepted one of the white roses. All of the flowers were closed, but when June held it in her hand, the closed head burst into a blue flame. As the petals opened up, blossoming, a name floated out and above the flower, written in flames. “Maverick Avery.” June turned toward her intended with a broad grin.
Maverick Avery, whose face was either blank or grinning, was a Slytherin like June. His strength was unmatched within their House, and he was proud of it. He was easily Charlotte’s favourite of the friends she made over the last half a year. He was aiming his future toward his Beater skills, wanting to play Quidditch professionally. Charlotte had to admit he had raw talent when it came to hitting a vicious ball with a bat. June, intending to be a homemaker, had wanted one of the Slytherin boys anyways, so maybe it would work out. Maverick stood up and strode to June, who offered him her rose. He smiled at her and accepted it happily, escorting her back to their seats.
“Dune, Aliyah.”
The Ravenclaw carefully made her way up to the Ministry official. She was breathing slowly, nervous as the day was long. Aliyah was in the program because her family believed she could be partnered with another pure-blood family that would help her with her career going forward. It was a solid line of thought. The Dunes were inventors, brilliant in every area they decided to make their expertise. What they weren’t, however, was renown. They had built a name as catering to helping half-bloods and muggle-borns, which earned them growing animosity from some pure-blood families. Those families went on to use their influence to slowly boycott the Dune inventions. Now, as Aliyah grabbed her rose, Charlotte could only hope she ended up with a partner worthy of her wit. “Reed Hardgardner.” A look of relief overtook the girl’s face as she broke into a grin. One of the Gryffindor boys went up to greet her, his own smile warm and genuine. Aliyah was a damn snack, and he was lucky to get partnered with her. Reed came from a very upstanding and well-named Broomstick making family. This would be good for them both.
“Gonzalez, Therese.”
The Slytherin girl looked bored as she made her way up. She was the kind of girl who could never be impressed or entertained by anything in this world. She was quiet and reserved, though she was known to break into a sneer or two at the misfortune of others. She was one of the most loyal friends a person could ask for, though, and her knuckles were covered with scars from all the fights she picked with other students. Charlotte felt bad for whomever was going to be assigned her. “Yuri Dragovich.” The other Gryffindor boy strode up. A match made in heaven, Charlotte thought, as Yuri looked like he hadn’t let emotions dirty his face since he was a child.
“Hotchner, Charlotte.”
~ * ~
When her name was called, Charlotte stood up tall and strong. Her chin was raised just a little, like it always was, and she set her jaw. She tried to hide her shaking knees as best as she could, which wasn’t all too difficult since her school skirt went to mid-calf. She didn’t want to look at the boys, didn’t want to tip off that she already knew which name was coming, that she knew who her partner was going to be. She fought it with every ounce of will, but her eyes very slowly turned to the boy as her fingers wrapped around the rose stem. She supposed it didn’t matter in the long run. She knew which name was going to appear above the flower because she knew that both her parents and his grandfather paid good money to ensure it did.
“Tom Riddle.”
Tom Riddle stood up from his spot among their friends and offered her a smile that felt as perfectly crafted as the curl of hair that graced his forehead. His hair was as black as hers was pale; it was wavy and short--though not nearly as wavy as her sister's tight curls. His face was so angular, and Charlotte had spent some time over the last 6 months stealing glances at those killer cheekbones. She didn’t stare at him nearly as long as other girls did, didn’t feel the urge to, but it wasn’t very difficult to notice that his eyes were impossibly blue; they looked almost white at a glance, but this wasn’t a casual glance now. They were a clear blue like mountain water frozen for a millenia. He had his gaze focused on her, and what a strong gaze it was. His tie was perfectly tied at the base of his neck, and his sleeves were pinned tightly at his wrists. The height difference between the two was comical as he sauntered up, around 6’0” to her short 5’2”.
It wasn’t just how clean cut and well-put together this man looked; it was the aura he carried with him. It was a confidence that swirled around him, pulling bystanders in with a gravitational pull that very few could resist. She was one of the few who seemed less affected by him, though she was drawn to him in her own way.
Calming the fluttering in her chest as the undoubtedly handsome Slytherin wrapped his fingers around the stem of the rose, Charlotte reminded herself that this entire thing was a formality. She and Tom were friends, that was undoubtful. They did everything together, partnered for every class and every group assignment. They sat beside each other at every meal they had together, and they even went to Hogsmeade hand-in-hand.
Tom may have been one of the most charming and charismatic men she had ever met. He was always surrounded by a small crowd of people who hung onto everything he said. Every word that came from his mouth seemed to be carefully crafted, fine-tuned to get his way and soothe the person he directed his attention toward. And his attention was often on her. A smile curved his lips, and his eyes held a softness they only did for her. He accepted the rose without a word, and his hand moved to her lower back as he led her toward their friends.
“MacKenzie, Allison.”
This Slytherin was not like the others. There were rumours that her family bribed the sorting hat to put her in the house to keep their family name “pure”. But Charlotte thought that was silly. What would they bribe it with, a fancy brooch? Allison was a bubbly ditz whose only ambition was to be the very best Gobstones player in the world. But Charlotte supposed she would do anything to gain that record, not excluding a bat-bogey hex on her opponent when she distracted them with some long, babbling story. Her rose burst into flames, and she emitted a wild giggle before reading the name aloud. “Vance Torres!” The Hufflepuff boy came rushing up with a big grin. Charlotte didn’t know too much about him, just that he was every bit as Hufflepuff as the house seemed to be.
“Posani, Priyanka.”
The other Ravenclaw girl stood up slowly. She looked at Charlotte and smiled. They had a friendly competition, when it came to classes and grades this year. It was an unspoken bond that tied them together, and a curt nod from Charlotte was all the courage she needed to continue forward. Her rose burst into flames in her perfectly manicured hand, and the name brought an audible sigh of relief to her lips. “Nathan Jones.” He was from her own house, and they were well-acquainted with each other. They looked like a couple that could be on the cover of “Witch Weekly” as they stood in their library with their 2 kids and a white dog. Their smiles were matching as they took their seats.
“That just leaves you and me, baby!” Lyra Thompson, the final Slytherin girl, shouted as she giggled and jumped into Sean Nott’s arms, who laughed as he buried his face into the crook of her neck. Those who signed up for the program weren’t supposed to form relationships before their assignments, as it could cause broken pacts, but Lyra and Sean had gone ahead and done that anyway. They had hoped they would be assigned together, and it seemed luck was on their side. Charlotte and Tom had as well, of course, but theirs wasn’t based on luck.
“You will receive your payments directly to your bank. Any questions can be delivered to the program’s director. Thank you for your service, and have a nice summer.” The official and Headmaster headed out, leaving the students to chat as they got ready to leave.
“Hotch,” Avery greeted her with a grin. She smiled and gave him a gentle side hug. She and Avery had grown closer than some of the others because they had bonded over their mutual love for food and Quidditch. She was a seeker, and she fully intended to try out for the team at the start of the next school year. Everyone called her “Hotch” because everyone called Elizabeth “Hotchner.” She quite liked the nickname.
“Charlotte, I’m so glad you got Tom! Like, I know you two were dating already and hoping to be partnered or whatever, but like, I’m just so happy for you! Even happier that you got one of the Slytherin boys! Imagine how horrible if you ended up with a Gryffindor,” June gasped as she grabbed Charlotte’s left arm. She looked at Therese with a look of pure pity. “No offense, Ther,” she said.
“None taken. He’s quiet. I like that,” Therese said simply. She was a woman of few words.
“But yay! I mean, Allison has that Puff, and Ther has that Gryffindor, but the rest of us got our own house!” Lyra said with a grin, her arm still wrapped firmly around Sean’s waist. Charlotte just smiled and nodded.
“Neither of you seemed surprised, though. Almost like you knew you’d be picked,” June said with a little giggle.
“That’s silly. How could we have known?” Tom asked, his voice low and smooth. His hand gently brushed against Charlotte’s back before finding its rest on her hip. The heat of his arm seared her through their clothes, and he pulled her close against his side. Charlotte refused to let a blush rise to her gaunt cheeks, and years of practicing that exact refusal made it a success. She looked up at Tom and couldn’t help but smile.
“I think I was just relieved to see Tom’s name rather than someone else’s. I don’t know anything about any of the other boys outside of our House, so it would have made for an awkward pairing. Plus, we would’ve had to break up and...” She trailed off and looked up at him. He just winked at her, knowing that she was playing the part well. Lying came naturally to them both.
“Well, it’s lucky that you two ended up paired. I can’t imagine the hell your partners would feel if you were with someone else. Anyways, your children are going to be blessed in looks and magic,” Lyra said, laying a hand on Charlotte’s forearm as she threw her head back and laughed. Charlotte gave her a polite laugh and gently shook off the girl’s hand.
“Saw that,” Tom whispered to her.
“Shut up,” she muttered back, making him chuckle under his breath.
“C’mon. We’ve got so much packing to do, and we have to leave pretty early tomorrow,” Allison said with a motion of her head. She was weird, very unlike these other pureblood Slytherin girls, but they hung out with her anyways because, despite it all, she was one of them. Slytherin got a bad rap for pumping out more evil people than ever, more people who would use dark magic without hesitation, but nobody told her about how protective they were of each other. Nobody warned her that they treated their Housemates closer than family. Nobody told her that even in the 6 months she had been there, she would curse, hex, charm, and physically throw hands at the other students to ensure the health and happiness of her own Housemates.
“I don’t want to pack,” Charlotte groaned in a complaint, her eyes rolling. Allison laughed at her and started off toward the stairs in the entrance hall that would take them down to the Slytherin dungeons.
“Now, now, wife. The sooner you pack, the sooner you can relax before the train ride back home!” Tom said with her. His sneer was in his tone, and she shot him a warning glare. None of the others picked up on it, though they did tease them about the pet name. How was she supposed to explain that she was actually used to it by now? How was she supposed to explain that they both already knew what the rose was going to say? That she knew she was going to end up with Tom?
How was Charlotte Hotchner supposed to explain that she was already engaged to Tom Riddle?