An Evening at Madam Zenarie’s Emporium Ⅱ

After the bold statement, Madam Zenarie is stunned by the abrupt request, before lifting her gaze towards Katelyn. She had truly underestimated the depths of their affection. With disbelief blatantly obvious in her gaze, she crisply asks, "And is this what you also wish for Katelyn? Do you share the same sentiments as that of Mr. Fudge?"

"Yes, Madam Zenarie," Katelyn sincerely, but steadfastly replied. "Cornelius even purchased a special wedding license, Madam Zenarie. There even a goblin marriage clerk already waiting for us at Gringotts's to wed and register our marriage this very evening. And I didn't want to marry with my debt still present and hanging overhead especially over our marriage. I very much desire to wed freely under my own name that is free to give."

Madam Zenarie turns her gaze towards the much shorter wizard. In a stern tone of voice, she says, "Forgive me, Mr. Fudge, but I must sincerely ask if you will not regret your actions of this night? Your love may be true and freely given, but life has a way of crushing even the most pulsating of emotions."

Cornelius looks as though he is about to protest such harsh words, but Madam Zenarie does not permit him an opportunity to speak. "It is not that I wish to dissuade either of you," Madam Zenarie candidly stated.

"However, as of this present moment, Mr. Fudge, you are on the rise within the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Your marriage to Katelyn will certainly cause plenty of brows to be raised, and your very integrity questioned. Any further promotion with the Ministry of Magic may become stagnated, and not to mention the fierce tongue-wagging that will occur with the announcement of your marriage, and the revelation of the identity of just whom you wed. Are you certain Mr. Fudge that you will have no cause for regret in the near future?" Madam Zenarie pointedly said with a cold arch of her brow.

Cornelius is silent for a moment as Katelyn's hands tightened on his shoulder. She and everyone seem to hold their breaths as they wait for Cornelius Fudge to speak. Cornelius furrows his brows and turns his head to the side giving his fiancé, Katelyn a comforting smile. Turning to face Madam Zenarie with a stout expression, he says, "I know that society will fiercely wag their tongues, Madam Zenarie. I know that they will even say that I could not even gain the hand of a proper girl from wizarding society. I also know what that they will call Katelyn when our backs are turned."

Cornelius pauses to squeeze the hand of his fiancé resting on his shoulder. "And I also know that I will be looked down on by various members of the Ministry of Magic," Cornelius truthfully said before proudly straightening up and tilting his head up confidently. "However, I have faith in my own efforts that my superiors will look past the gossip and see my hard-earned efforts for that which they are. And even should the worst situation arise, I have more than enough money to depart from the Ministry of Magic and provide for my family, and WIFE be it here or even overseas."

Katelyn's face is aglow and in love at the stark declaration of love from her lover. She knew that life would not be easy for either of them from now on. But together, she knew that they would be able to overcome any tribulation that might be thrown their way.

"Well said, Mr. Fudge," Madam Zenarie said with a slow nod in acceptance of the vehement declaration from Cornelius Fudge. The couple turns to gaze at each other in delight knowing that they had at long last gained the approval of Madam Zenarie.

With a stern expression, Madam Zenarie in a warning tone of voice bursts their bubble as they solemnly turn to face her. "Katelyn is one of my girls, Mr. Fudge, and I expect for her to always be treated properly. Should I hear otherwise, I shall be most displeased, is that understood?"

"You shan't ever have any cause to worry, Madam Zenarie," Cornelius sincerely answered, before turning with a loving gaze to his much taller fiancé. "She's my lovely, Kat, and I'm her, plumb Cor, and we care for each other. I shall never be ashamed of her now or later, and I shan't abandon her even though I know what polite wizarding society will say."

"Very well," Madam Zenarie said as she reached into the fold of her skirt to remove a fan mokeskin pouch that contains all of her flowers and herbs contracts. With nimble fingers, she reaches inside and pulls out a single golden contract. Without even needing to read the contract, she says, "Kateyln's remaining debt is 1,863 galleons to be paid in full."

Cornelius eagerly reaches for his side and removes a small mokeskin pouch. "2,000 galleons verified by the goblins," he truthfully replied.

Madam Zenarie accepts the pouch and checks the mokeskin pouch for a Gringotts seal of verification. Seeing that the pouch is sealed and the Gringotts seal has not been broken, she accepts the pouch, before handing the golden contract to Katelyn. With tearful eyes, Katelyn rips the contract and the golden contract turns into dust signaling that the debt has been paid in full, (also the copy housed at Gringotts had also been immediately destroyed), leaving the couple, at last, to be able to be freely wed.

"I wish you both, good fortune," Madam Zenarie honestly said, before turning away from the embracing couple.

Behind them the flowers and herbs that are close friends of Katelyn rush to congratulate the couple. Their path would not be far from easy, but they had chosen to embark on the path of true love. They would depart later that evening for Gringotts and wed. By the following morning, their romance would be on the front page of the Daily Prophet, and despite what the vile Rita Skeeter wrote the two of them would remain infallible before the press and wizarding society. Because for no logical reason nor explanation the two were steadfastly in love, and sometimes that is enough to do even the bravest and rashest of things.