Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the characters in this story. I own the plot.
Autumn and Summer
Andromeda Tonks, Narcissa Malfoy and Molly Weasley were sitting in the back yard of the Burrow watching Teddy Lupin chasing the gnomes.
"More tea Narcissa?" Molly asked.
"No, I will need to be going," Narcissa replied. "I have an appointment at the Ministry of Magic to get my divorce finalized. They didn't even blink an eye. Being locked in Azkaban for life proves that you cannot take care of your spouse, therefore the binding was broken. In an hour I will be Narcissa Black again."
With that she left the yard for the apparition point. "I am so glad that we have reconciled," said Andromeda. "Two years ago I would not have thought it could happen."
"I saw it coming when she attended the memorial for Ted," replied Molly. "The two of you, Draco and Teddy are the last of the Blacks. It is so hard to be the last of a line. Even if the name dies, you still need children to carry on the blood lines. No, not the pure-blood, or whatever, but you know what I mean, you need descendents."
"Is that Arthur coming already?" Andromeda asked.
"Yes, and he is about two hours early, I haven't even started supper," answered Molly.
"Hello, ladies," Arthur said kissing Molly on the cheek. "Are you finished with tea?"
"Let me pour you a cup because you look like you are irritated about something. You never come home this early unless you are upset about something," said Molly.
"Well, you will hear about it in the Prophet extra edition in a little while. Kingsley sent us all home," said Arthur raking his fingers through his hair.
"Oh, dear," worried Andromeda, "Narcissa just left to get her divorce from Lucius finalized."
"That is so ironic," snorted Arthur under his breath. "I saw her arrive and go into the office just as I was leaving. She is going to be a bit put out when she hears the news."
"Come on, Arthur," chuffed Molly, "quit stalling and let us know what is going on." She reached down and picked up Teddy. He giggled and turned his hair bright red.
"They have passed a Marriage Law," began Arthur. "Now, let me finish before you hex me," he tried to settle the women down. "They are really overstepping their bounds this time, but they are desperate."
"Quit beating around the bush," urged Andromeda, "out with it, Arthur."
"The ages involved are women of 17 who have finished school until they reach menopause. The ages for men are 17 through 75."
"Oh, I see what you were talking about irony," Andromeda said. "Narcissa is divorced today and can be matched tomorrow." She paled, "And I am widowed and eligible also." She cringed, "Who among my age group are single besides Xenophilius Lovegood?"
"Aberforth Dumbledore is single and owns his own business," Molly added trying to be helpful.
Andromeda choked on the biscuit she had just taken a bite from. Arthur spit a mouthful of tea across the lawn. "That is a scary thought," Andromeda shuddered.
"Well, that is four pure-bloods in your age group, counting you," Molly said thoughtfully. "Is there more Arthur?"
"Here comes the extra edition of the Prophet, so will you please read it to us, Arthur?" Molly asked.
Arthur reached into his pocket and pulled out a sickle and gave it to the owl. It was more than the usual cost, but the bird deserved a tip. He opened the paper. "In accordance with Wizard Law … m-m-m-m … just mumbo-jumbo, okay, here it is." Arthur scanned the tabloid. "The ages I told you about," he continued. "Blood status will have no bearing, nor will age. All wizards and witches who are within the age group will be paired in order to produce a new generation of magical children. They will have three months to court and arrange a marriage. Since procreation is the aim of this law, the marriage must be consummated within twenty-four hours of the wedding and a child will have to be conceived within a year of marriage. If no child is conceived, the wizard and witch will undergo fertility testing. In the event one of the partners is infertile a surrogate or sperm donor will be supplied. Wizards and witches who are in relationships, engaged or wish to marry someone before the pairings are published will be allowed to do so for three days. The office will be open and have someone available for bonding twenty-four hours a day for those three days. Those wizards and witches will be removed from the list of available partners. Those in same sex relationships will be supplied with surrogates or sperm donors, but must register the relationship and be bound and raise their child or children. Couples are urged to have more than one child. A full list of pairings will be published in the regular edition of the Daily Prophet in one week. The list of surrogates will remain secret but are all married women who have offered the use of their womb. Sperm donors will also be kept anonymous. Bondings under this law will remain in effect until all children reach the age of 17."
"It looks like they have everything covered," said Molly, sarcasm dripping from every word.
"Well, that gives me something to look forward to," said Andromeda, picking up Teddy from Molly's lap. "Mind if I use your floo?"
When she arrived home, Andromeda sat Teddy in a high chair and started to prepare supper. She put a handful of cereal on his tray. She took the lettuce and vegetables from the cooling chest. Taking a knife from the drawer, she began preparing a salad the muggle way. It gave her time to think.
"Mother, did you know that you are back on the marriage market?" asked Draco as Narcissa entered the Manor.
"Excuse me?" Narcissa answered giving her son a quick peck on the cheek. "I just got divorced today."
"I know," he replied. "Have you read the extra edition of the Prophet?" Then he continued after she shook her head, "There is a new marriage law and you and I are both in the market for a spouse."
"Surely you have it wrong," Narcissa stated.
"No, it says," Draco read from the paper, "The ages involved are women of 17 who have finished school until they reach menopause. The ages for men are 17 through 75." He pulled a face and wrinkled his nose as though he smelled something from the floor of a Quidditch changing room.
A week later the Daily Prophet had the complete list of pairings. "The Ministry doesn't even have the nerve to tell us individually who we are marrying." Draco was reading down the list to see who was paired with whom while he was eating his breakfast. "Mother, you need to get a firewhisky."
"Oh, Draco," she said admonishingly, "it cannot be that bad."
"It's a good thing you like dragons," Draco teased.
"Out with it, Draco, don't tease me," his mother chided.
"Let's just say," Draco continued to keep her in suspense, "I hope you like red-headed children."
"All right," she sighed, "you are too happy about this. Who has red hair and is single? Wait, which Weasley am I to marry?"
"Charles."
"Whew," she said with relief, "at least I didn't get Percival or Ronald."
"Who were you paired with?" his mother asked.
"Forget about me. Aunt Andromeda has been paired with Adrian Pucey!" Draco exclaimed. "He is only two years older than I am."
"How old do you think Charles is?" Narcissa asked no one.
"He is either the oldest or next oldest of the Weasley boys. He was in Romania working with dragons when I began school. I will have to ask Hermione when I see her."
"Who were you paired with?"Narcissa asked again.
"Well, I guess there will be a run on the vaults at Gringotts when the wizards go to retrieve family heirlooms to bestow on their new fiancées."
"Why would you be asking Hermione how old Charles is?" Narcissa was getting frustrated.
"Because she is my partner at work and will be in life, too."
Major & Minor Arcana Assignment #4
Task: … take three cards and their meanings and write me a story using a card for a person/people (the character[s]), a card for a place (the setting), and a card for what they're doing (what these characters are doing in that place). … please make sure to put which three cards you picked in your Author Note.
Prompts:
The Lovers - Love and the union of opposites. The Soul or both the Anima and Animus (the male element of the female).
The Wheel of Fortune - Changes and karma. Fate and Destiny.
Death - Endings and beginnings. Rebirth.
Word Count: Minimum 300 words, Maximum 2,000 words.
Marriage-Law-Challenge: Prologue