"... And he wondered whether he and Maria had been thrown together out of necessity. Him, a grieving widow with everything to gain, and her, an outsider – never quite fitting in with her dress and her ideas – with everything to prove." [Inspired by the TSOM forum Feb 2016 prompt - "write a meet-cute"]

Maria is the one that puts his family back together, and at the end and beginning and in between everything he loves her most of all because she loved his children first. But not at first; of course not. (Or; Georg falls in love with Maria slowly and all at once- it just takes a while, music and honesty.)

Elsa quickly realizes she isn't suited to be wife to Georg, and mother to his seven children. But she sees an ideal candidate, and does her best to bring them together.

Hermione overhears something she shouldn't concerning Professor Snape and decides that maybe the House-elves aren't the only ones in need of protection.