pairings: Draco/Hermione, Ron/Pansy, Blaise/Ginny, Harry/Luna
plot: marriage law
I do not own Harry Potter, that wonderful world belongs to J.K. Rowling
The characters might be a bit out of character, so sorry about that.
There will be quotes from the books- I won't specify all of them but there definitely will be many of them that you may or may not pick out. If there are any other quotes from other sources used I will state them. :)
"Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast" Dumbledore began, spreading his arms magnificently in a welcoming gesture. "As you are well aware, Lord Voldemort" there was a collective gasp in the Great Hall, "has been defeated by Mr. Harry Potter and peace is upon us once again" at this Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff erupted into loud cheers and applause to the boy-who-lived, whilst Slytherin remained stubbornly silent; many of the students had at least one parent in Azkaban due to the victory. Dumbledore smiled, "yes, yes, well done Mr. Potter. However, I warn you that there will be many changes to the school, the main being a law recently passed by the Ministry of Magic to help recover from the devastating losses from the war - a marriage law"
The Great Hall burst into gasps - the Ministry? Marriage Law? Was this a joke? Dumbledore must have gone 'round the bend! Dumbledore raised his arms again, "Silence!" he raised his voice only slightly, but every member of the student body heard him loud and clear, "this law will be affecting those who are seventeen years old - those of age in the wizarding world. After the feast, each female affected will be called to the front and the sorting hat will pair you with a man most suitable to your personality" Dumbledore looked around the hall; seeing the anguished faces of the young men and woman who were about to loose their freedom and childhood because of a war - a war many played a big part in; a war that already robbed these poor children (for in his eyes, they were still only children) of their childhood so early in their life. "On the rather sour note, let the feast begin!"
"Ronald Weasley!" Hermione exclaimed, the boy in question raised his head, a chicken leg grasped firmly in each hand and his mouth full, "waddissit?" he said, his mouth almost overflowing with food. Hermione cringed, "For goodness sake, it's not like you're underfed or something" she said in disgust, "use your manners". She honestly couldn't believe that she had actually liked this guy earlier on in her life - he was disgusting! Ginny slid up to the trio, Harry and Ginny had mutually decided to end their relationship, they agreed that they had believed that they were soul mates, however they saw each other as a member of their family, not their lover. They remained close friends.
"so, what do you guys think of this marriage law?" she said, eyeing her brother carefully - with her luck he'd explode no matter who she was paired with, even Harry. Hermione glared at her food, "They can't just force us into something like this, this kind of relationship is about trust and love. They could at least give us a choice of who to marry" Harry nodded his agreement, "I know why they're doing this and I understand, but does it have to start so young? We haven't even graduated and they expect us to get married and I guess we'll eventually have to have kids" he sighed, "I just wish I could have chosen my wife, it ruins the whole concept of marriage"
The younger years were already placing bets on who was going to be paired with who, much to the distaste of the seventh and eighth years. Couples were huddled together, talking in hushed voices about their future. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny remained in a comfortable silence (well, Ron was eating his food heartily, whilst his best friends and sister had lost their appetite completely).
Dumbledore stood up again when it became clear that the students had finished their meal and the plates had been cleared away. "So, now that we are all fed and watered, the females of each year group will be called and paired" Dumbledore stated heavily. "Seventh years" Professor McGonagall called, her eyes were full of sympathy towards the students as they resignedly made their way to the front. Ron seemed to keep his eyes on his sister at all times, as if his mere vision could protect her from this law. McGonagall slowly opened the scroll of names.
"Andrews, Samatha" she started
The Ravenclaw girl climbed the steps to the stool, trembling tremendously, and the sorting hat was placed on her head.
"Roland Abberley" the hat called.
The sorting continued until
"Lovegood, Luna" McGonagall said, the girl skipped to the stool and seemed perfectly calm, seconds past as the hat seemed to debate her match until "Harry Potter" was shouted. Gasps raced through the Great Hall, but Harry showed no emotion whatsoever, neither did Luna.
"Weasley, Ginevra". Ron sat up straight in his chair, he seemed to he muttering underneath his breath, 'Not a Slytherin. Not a Slytherin' The hat sat on her head, Ginny's eyes widened she began shaking her head until she screamed, "THE CHAMBERS HAVE NOT AFFECTED ME IN ANY WAY" before tearing off the hat, though not before it called out the name "Blaise Zabini". Ginny collapsed onto the floor, the memories of the chamber over-taking her mind. Then hell froze over. Blaise Zabini got out of his seat and walked over to where his new fiancee was sitting, he knelt beside her and picked her up. "Excuse me, professor" he said and then walked out of the Great Hall towards the Hospital Wing.
Ron glared at the door, "No" he shouted, "My sister will NOT marry a deatheater" he turned to Dumbledore, "Zabini isn't her match," he insisted, "She can't marry a deatheater". To the surprise of the Great Hall, Draco Malfoy stood up and glared at Ron, "You know, Weaslebee, Blaise isn't a deatheater, so maybe you should actually have some facts before you accuse a person of being one" he said, his grey eyes piercing Ron's sky blue. Ron scowled, "He's your best friend, best friends with a deatheater is just as bad" he retorted. Malfoy glared, "Contrary to popular belief, I am not a deatheater" he said, raising his left sleeve to reveal a pale, unmarked wrist.
Ron stared, gobsmacked at the unblemished skin, "I…I..thought…I" he smattered, going red he sat down though he still glared at the Slytherin Prince. There was an uneasy silence in the Great Hall after this exchange, but McGonagall coughed and called the eighth year females to the front.
"Abbot, Hannah" was called and was paired with "Neville Longbottom"
"Parkinson, Pansy" McGonagall called, a short silence was followed by "Ronald Weasley!"
Pansy's shrieked and ran towards Malfoy, "Draco, darling, wouldn't you rather marry me instead?" she pleaded, her blue eyes almost brimming with tears. Malfoy just looked at her and shook his head. Harry was poking Ron in the shoulder, trying in vain to get his friend to awaken from his dead faint. Eventually, Lavender took pity on the chosen one and uttered 'renervate" (i think that's how you spell it?) and the boy woke up.
Hermione zoned out until she heard her name being called, taking a deep breath she walked forward her head held high and her body not even trembling. The sorting hat was placed on her head.
Such violent memories; such loss; such hardship. A young woman with the bravery of a Gryffindor, the intelligence of a Ravenclaw, the loyalty of a Hufflepuff and although you deny it, the cunning of a Slytherin. The hat said in her head, Hermione closed her eyes. But who to put you with? A strong man who will protect you and take control? No? How about an intelligent man who has suffered the same losses, a man who will let you be yourself and won't hold you down, a man who will protect you when you need protecting but knows when to step back? Hermione opened her eyes. That sounded like the man for her. The hat seemed to grin, "Your partner is…Draco Malfoy"