The tall red haired student glared at the paper on the desk in front of him, it was a TEST for merlins sake. Fred wasn't going to last through this test. Not at all. A glance to his left showed that his twin brother, George, wasn't doing much better. The two were pranksters, practical jokers that every student was a victim of a joke at one point or another. They wern't up to having to re-take tests, to have to go back to school and start again. They had to take year seven again.
George crossed his arms and glared at their teacher. The test was a test to see which subjects were to be taken again. The boys excelled in charms and their potions was so-so. Defence against the dark arts was pretty simple (with tutering) and they were the top of the class in Hagrids class (care of magical creatures). Both boys wern't at all good at transfigurations or herbology. They were sure to have to take both classes again and probably potions as well, they could most likly skim over Defence against the dark arts class, and there was no need for charms or care of magical creatures.
Hermione granger was a compleatly different matter, although she'd missed out on her last year and was taking the SAME test, she was passing almost every subject. Charms was easy, she'd not be taking it again, and potions was quite simple to the brunet. She was already doing quite well in transfigurations and care of magical creatures. Herbology was not one of her strong points, but she was doing quite well, and Defence against the dark arts was the simplest class of all. In Hermione's point of veiw, she was ahead of all her classes.
Harry scribbled his last answer and grinned, he was PASSING, he was in the same place as Hermione in Defence against the dark arts, he could pass potions quickly and transfigurations was simple, he would need tutering in herbology and charms. Care of magical creatures was a fun class and Harry was quite good at it.
Ron weasley, Fred and George's younger brother, wasn't doing as well as his friends, he wasn't failing like his brothers though. He was passing Defence against the dark arts, but Herbology was refusing to be helpful and be easy. Transfigurations was so-so and care of magical creatures was quick and easy. Potions was a nessesity, even though he was out of practice Ron was still quite good at it, he'd pass quickly.
Melody Wineheart smiled at the teacher, she was the same age as her boyfriend, but she was doing much better in the test then him, she knew Herbology, Potions, and Defence against the dark arts. Her Transfiguration was quite good, and her Charms needed some work, not much though, she was top of the class in Care of magical creatures, but something was in the pit of her stomich and she knew the twins wern't doing as well as her. 'I'll see them at lunch.' Melody vowed.
The six students were only some of the hundreds that were taking the test. Some students were happy about it, others wern't. The rest were not in either catergory. The DING-DONG of the bell announced the end of the test and the students let their tests fly away. Fred leapt from his seat and grabbed his brother, collecting Harry the group of three went to search for Ron. George grabbed his brother's ear. "Come on little one." He laughed as he hauled his brother along. Fred draped one arm over Hermione's shoulder. "Hey 'Mione." He grinned.
"Hello Fred." Hermione greeted her friends brother. "How are you?" "Great, you?" Hermione laughed "Never better." The pair grinned and hurried into the great hall. "Food!" Ron cried out, pulling his friends after him. They settled down at the table and dished up the food, they heaped their plates up and begain to munch.
Hermione found herself squished between the twins, George on her left, Fred on her right. Harry placed himself opposite her, Ginny grinned and settled herself next to her boyfriend. Ron grabbed Harry's right. WOOSH, an owls wing barely missed Hermione's head. "Duck!" Fred cried out as another owl came swooping down. George grabbed his mail and grinned. Hermione followed suit and ducked, she reached forward and caught her letters. Fred grinned, he watched the brunet that was on his mind all the time bend over and retreve her mail. A package thunked Fred on the head and the peite girl giggled.
"Watch out." She told him with a smile.
"You could have said that EARLER 'Mione." Fred grumped with a grin.
"I could have," Hermione agreed "But I didn't."
George grinned "Open it stupid." He laughed. "We're dying to see what hit you on the head."
Fred scowled at his brother but complied. Ripping the brown paper off Fred crinkled his brow. "What?" he muttered "Why is this here?" "We all got one fred." Ginny told her brother, leaning over to touch his arm "Even I do." George nodded his agreement. "Its from the ministry." he pointed out.
A tall, weathered woman stood at the podium. "Indeed," She called out to the thousands of students "You all have letters, they are from the ministry." The woman smiled kindly. "A new LAW has been ordered into place." She rolled her eyes "I do not beleve it should be done." The professer told her school "But in memory of Professor Albus Dumbledor and Cedric Diggory, plus all the great students that we lost, we shall abide by the rules and open our letters together. I can say this...the law is marrage." She sighed and turned away.
Fred stared at his letter "Bloody hell." He growled "A LAW?" Hermione set a hand on Fred's arm "Fred." She whispered "Please, calm down... we have yet to learn what the law is." Fred sighed and let his letter fall "What else do I get eh?" The tall red head grinned "Oh!" He pulled out a heart shaped thing "Hehe...I know who sent this." Ginny smiled at her brother "Eat up." She told him. Ginny turned to the whole of the group. "Then we'll open our letters together." As she spoke Ginny set a hand on Harry's lap. Ron grinned at his girlfriend, he'd found Lavender and they'd gotten back together again. The brown haired girl settled her self onto her seat and smiled. "Hey guys." She chirped. "Whats the new law?" Fred glared at his letter. George smiled at the girl "No idea, Mr Grumble of their is angry at the ministry." Fred sighed at glanced up "I'm not HAPPY." He muttered.
Hermione raised an eyebrow "That test was not the law Fred, I'm sure that you did fine." The guy just shrugged and bite into his grilled cheese sandwhich.
"No ideas?" Lavender asked.
Ron shook his head "The new minister is insane." He told her.
"Agreed." Lavender giggled.
They finished eating and picked up their ministry letters. "Ready?" Ginny asked.
"No." Fred replied. Hermione bite her lip and nodded. Harry smiled at Ginny, George took Melody's hand. Ron and Lavender nodded at the red haired girl.
"Well, even though your not ready," Ginny sighed "Your opening that letter." She grinned at her brother "Hermione could help you." She laughed as Fred shook his head.
"Fine. I'm ready." He picked up his letter and got ready to break the seal.
"Three, Two, One, Open." Ginny cried out.
The group broke the seals and grinned. "We know what the law is!" Lavender said excitedly. "Its a marrage law, we HAVE to get married. Thats what McGonagall meant by 'The law is Marrage' The minister is STILL insane though." Fred groaned and set his head in his hands. George rolled his eyes "Can't be THAT bad right?" "Sure it can." Fred replied.
"How?" Ron asked, he was obviusly confused at his older brothers actions.
"I don't want to talk about it." Fred growled. Glaring at the paper Fred grabbed it and stalked from the hall. Hermione watched him go "Why is he so annoyed?" She demanded. George shrugged "Dunno."
Melody sighed "This is why." She pointed to the paper "You get GIVEN a partner. There is no small print that says 'this is a trick' or 'you may get to choose your partner' it doesn't mean that you'll get stuck with the person your dating now. If your married, over or under the age limit (16-49) then you get to bypass, if your YOUNGER then 16 then you have to wait for your partner." Melody sighed "Thats why he's upset." Ginny nodded "Thats understandable. He doesn't have a partner, he dislikes the majorty of the girls here, and doesn't want to even get married." Hermione swallowed her last bit of her lunch "I understand." She said.
Lavender smiled "You'll be going through the same thing as him, our partners come at dinner." "GAH!" Hermione practicly screamed "Why so SOON?" Ron shrugged "As I said earlier, the Ministry and Minister are insane." "You don't help Ron." Hermione snapped. "I'm going to the-"
"Library?" Harry guessed.
"Yes. Or the common room." Hermione agreed as she stood, grabbed her bag and hurried from the room.
"She's not." George laughed when she left veiw "She's finding fred." Ginny nodded "I'll bet a whole gallon that she's finding him."
Melody grinned "No need to bet Gin, we all know thats she's trying to."
Ginny laughed "Ok then, I get to keep my gallon then?"
George nodded "This time." He told her. "Come on, we'll try to wander around and see if our thoughts are right."
Harry nodded "I vote we go in one big group."
"To noticable." Ron objected.
"Its not a spy misson Ron." Melody laughed "We're mearly seeing if we're right, anyway, Lav, Gin and I can go to the Library and you boys head to the Common room, we'll meet up on the astronamy tower ok?" Ron nodded and George and Harry followed suit.
The girls hurried through the halls, they chatted a bit, mainly to make it seem natural. "I'm needing to get a book for my late night reading, what about you guys?" Lavender announced as they neared the library.
Ginny smiled "I'm going to get somthing too." "You guys are getting somthing. I'll grab a book then." Melody agreed, she lead her friends into the huge library and set off to search for hermione or Fred, or both. "We should split up, and grab our books." Lavender said, she lowered her voice "We'll search for them then meet up at the door? Or the back?" "Door, we'll see any one come in. And if we can't see them come in, we'll head to Hermione's favourite place. The back." Ginny announced.
"Great," Melody grinned "My book is over here, meet you at the door?" She said.
"Sure thing Mel." Lavender agreed as she skipped over to the Isle three rows down.
Ginny smiled and set off to look for her friend.
"'Mione?" Ginny called softly, grabbing four books and hurring to the front, she checked them out and stood to wait for her friends.
Melody was the next girl along "Ready?" She asked as Lavender came racing over.
"Yep." The three girls hurried to the nearest seats. They waited for six minutes before Ginny whispered "I'm finished." The three wandered to the back, returning a book each, they searched for Hermione or Fred, but couldn't find either.
Admiting defeat they raced up to the astronamy tower. The boys wern't there "I suppose they found them then eh?" Melody said, noticing the boys hadn't turned up, they sat down and opened their books and began to read.
When the girls had hurried off, chattering like it was a normal thing to go searching for two people. "They find it easy." Ron grumbled.
"Don't turn into Fred on us here buddy." George told his brother.
"Promise." Ron assured his brother and friend. "Come on, to the tower we go." The three raced each other to the gryffindor tower. They scrambled through the port and came up to the commen room. George spotted his brother sitting on a couch, he was playing wizzerds chess with a girl, a brown, curly haired girl. "Hermione." Ron whispered.
"They seem happy, enough." Harry announced quietly. George tapped his chin "We can't let either one see us." He said. "It'll ruin our plan."
"What plan?" Ron asked "We didn't come up with one." "You didn't." George agreed "I did though. It may work, we just need...help." "And thats going to work, how?" "Katie bell, Lee and Anita." George laughed.
Harry sighed "Where are they?" Ron surveyed the room "We have to pass Fred and Hermione." He muttered "Didn't think of that did ya?" "No." George replied cheerfully "But I could have." "Your not a big help then are you?" Ron moaned.
Harry snorted "Not a big help?" He laughed "You can't say much. George got us a sorta plan." "A complication stopped it from working here." George added.
"You didn't help, and arn't now." Harry told his friend "No matter, we'll cross this jungle." "Of people?" George asked, a hint of laughter in his voice, his face was wreathed in amusmment. "Thats quite the strange thing." He said.
Lee stood up, he'd seen George, Harry and Ron come in and start to whisper. Something was up, and Granger and Twin 2 were the main aspect. "Come on girls." He said, waving his girlfriend and sister behind him. They crossed the room, the two that were being disscussed were engrossed in their game. "Heylo." Lee greeted the three, "I think you are disscussing somthing."
"Evesdropping," George answered.
"Ahh, we can help." Katie stepped forward "Who is it?" "My brother and his crush." Ron answered.
Anita smiled "We can help." She repeated.
"Thanks." "Do not thank us now Harry." The girl warned "We havn't done anything." "The new bloody law." A voice growled.
"I don't think he's gotten over it yet." George laughed "Come with us, we're going to the astronamy tower, we've got others." Anita grinned "Lead the way George." The group slid out and hurried to the tower.
Ginny leapt to her feet "Harry!" She cried out, she flung her arms out and wrapped him in a hug.
Lavender repeated the same steps but with ron "RON!" She squealed, throwing herself at him.
Melody grinned "Hey George." She greeted him, her blond hair being flicked over her shoulder as she wrapped her boyfriend in a hug. "Two more girls? One boy?" She grinned "HELP!" She sang.
Lee grinned "Lee." He said, "Thats my name." Melody laughed "Melody is mine." She answered "Katie!" The girls greeted each other with hugs "Hey Anita." The two high fived and laughed as they re-joined the group.
"Ok then. We've got a plan." Lee stated, some ten minutes later "The girls will go together, and the boys will go together." "I think that they're doing fine." Anita objected "Lee, this is PUSHING." "Thats what my mother does." George laughed.
Hermione hurried from the great hall, she wasn't going to the library or common room for no reason, she was looking for Fred. She didn't bother going to the library, he wouldn't be there. Hermione jogged to the Gryffindor tower, climbing into the common room Hermione spied Fred, he was sitting on a couch, a chess board sitting in front of him, he was alone. Hermione trotted over. Fred waved her to the seat opposite him "Want to play?" He asked.
"Sure." Hermione accepted. She was black, Fred started.
"2b pawn move to 4b." Hermione grinned and moved her pawn. The game went full out and they restarted often. "How are you?" Fred asked, Hermione blinked.
"Huh?" She asked.
"How are you?" Fred replied "Feeling? The new law?" "Uhm..." Hermione mumbled "Knight take queen." She said. Fred grinned "Your winning eh?" "Yes." Hermione laughed "I don't know how I feel about the new law. Fine I suppose." Hermione smiled weakly at Fred "We learn our new partners at dinner." She whispered.
"Great." Fred sighed "I don't even know who the hell I'm with, this is just getting better and better, its bloody brilliant." Hermione leaned over the board and touched his arm "No one knows who they're with Fred." She sighed "Some people are already coupled with others, some will have to split up." Fred sighed "McGonagall knows." He said suddenly. "You win." Fred waved his wand at the set and it tidyed up "Come on 'Mione, we're finding our professer."
"Some how, I get the feeling we're also finding out about that test eh?" "You know me 'Mione." "Never able to wait." The two laughed as they rushed through the halls, reaching the door to the moving staircase hermione stopped "I...I can't." She croaked.
A cat stepped out of the shaddows and changed into the professor "Miss Granger, Mr weasley, I think that you mean to see me?" "Yes professer." "Step into Dumbledor's office then." "Its still the same, I changed it back from Snapes office, Albus is back on the wall, every thing is back, I even changed the password back." "Thank you." Hermione mumbled.
"I always did prefer it the way it was, when Albus was alive, his pictures never seem the same. They sleep somtimes."
Fred smiled "You said at the start of the year,"
"Two days ago?" Hermione asked with a laugh.
"Yes." Fred agreed "That you'll only be the headmaster/mistress until you can get someone to take it on forever." "Yes." McGonagall nodded "Abaforth may take the positon." "Thats amazing!" Hermione grinned.
"It is." The professor agreed. "About those tests, you will get them back tomarrow, with your time table in two days."
Hermione gasped "When do classes start?" "Next week." "WHAT?" Hermione gasped.
Fred touched her arm "Calm down, how do you think that I passed for my first six years?" "By luck." Hermione retorted.
"No, I talked to professors." Fred corrected. "I learned when it would be starting and I made sure that I had everything and that I was on good terms." "Mr Weasley, you mean to say, that you didn't tell Miss Granger what you did?" "Never did." Fred agreed.
"The marrage law, I can tell you more about that." McGonagall changed the subject quickly. "You can?" Hermione asked, intrueged.
"Yes, I can. Now...take a seat." The two students settled down and waited. "The ministry," Minerva began "Is being stupid, you already know that right?" They nodded "I can tell you who your friends will be paired with if you promise not to tell them." "Promise." Fred and Hermione said in unison.
"Good." The professor smiled "Ginny Weasley." She said "Will be paired with Harry Potter. They are a perfect match and the ministry sees that they won't need to be changed. Ron Weasley, he has made it hard. Lavender and him are oposites, they could even each other out, and for that reason they are being kept togther. Lee, he and Katie Bell are togther. George Weasley and Melody Wineheart have not been split. They are togther. Now, it gets hard, Poor Anita has no partner, she is of age, just, and must be married. You know Oliver wood." Fred and Hermione nodded.
"He and her shall be married. Oliver knows Anita and...er... Likes her? I do not know but they are toghther. Now. I am not allowed to tell you who you are with, either one, I think you should like a lemon sherbert tart before you head back, your friends are looking for you."
Dinner was a hearty meal, the house elfs wanted to lighten the mood and had prepared a large meal. Hermione dreaded the mail, but letters dropped down all the same. "We open them at the same time." Ginny said softly "Three, two, one," They tore the seals and pulled out a peice of paper, Melody yanked hers out and squealed in delight "GEORGE!" The boys had been sitting else where and hadn't heared the cry. Ginny pulled hers out and grinned "Harry!" Lavender gulped, she was scared but she read it anyway "RON!" She squeaked.
Hermione stared at her paper, it was sitting in the envolope, not moving. Fred had been taken out of the hall for a bit. Hermione took a huge breath "We can get people from other schools to right?" She asked.
Ginny nodded "Yep, Jo got a boy from Dermstrang, I don't remember his name, he plays quidditch." Hermione hauled hers out "Bloody hell." She whispered.
"What?" Anita asked, she had found out that Oliver was her partner "I love Oliver, whats wrong with your guy?" "Who is it?" Ginny asked.
Melody leaned over "Hermione? Who is it?" "Fr-fred." she choked. "Bloody hell." Lavender whispered. The red haired boy came back and sat down. Hermione passed Ginny the letter and took a small bite of her food. "Wow." Melody said with a giggle "Thats hard core." "Your right Mel." Ginny laughed. "He's my brother, so, keep it down please." "What do you think we'll be doing? I have no-" "You WANT to go to azkabane or be stripped of your magic?" Lavender asked.
"NO!" Hermione gasped "What?" "Thats what is says, you object and get stripped of your magic." "Lav, thats NOT good." "You only read his name didn't you?" "Yes Anita, your right."
The boys watched the girls closley, they were passing one peice of paper around. Hermione was talking quickly then she'd duck her head, nod or shake her head then take a bite of her food, the other girls would glance their way, but she refused to. Fred returned "She wouldn't look at me." He muttered. "Why?" "She's not even looking this way." Lee told him "Mate, they know who their partners are, lets open ours." Fred nodded and ripped his open "This day couldn't get ANY better?" "What?" Lee asked, "I'm with Katie." "Ginny."
"Lavender." "Melody." They waved Oliver wood over "Who'd you get Ollie?" "Your sister Lee." "Anita?" "Yep, she's a sweet girl." They laughed. "She's all yours." Fred stared at the paper "Just great." He mumbled "She's not even looking at me. She won't talk to me most likly," "Who'd he get?" George leaned over "Granger." He read. "Now we know." He laughed at his brother "You like her." Oliver grinned "Mate, you like her, just say it. My open beater likes our best cheerleader other then Luna," "Luna isn't even in our house." Lee pointed out.
"But she could be." Oliver objected.
"Whatever, lets go get our girls. Bring mumbles there George." Lee waved a hand at the twins as he stood up and hurried over to the girls.
Oliver and George hauled Fred over to the girls. Ron and Harry settled on either side of Lavender and Ginny. "Oliver." Anita gasped. "Hey Anita." The keeper grinned at the girl "You trying out?" "Sure." She smiled "Where would I be best?" "Its a rough-" Oliver started.
"I know that." Anita interupted with a smile. "I'd be a reserve. I think I can move quick." "We've got Ron and I on Keeper, Harry on Seeker, Jo and Kas as chasers. The twins are our beaters. CHASER!" Oliver cried out, "We need a third one until Angelina is better." Anita grinned "Then what?" "You and Ginny, yes I chose, you are reserve chasers. Ginny is also a reserve seeker."
George placed his brother next to Hermione "Look at each other for merlins sake." he grumbled, stalking over to Melody to sit next to her. "Great. They WON'T talk. You coming over to the shop?" "Sure, I'm going to the burrow anyway, it shouldn't be a problem." Fred glanced at Hermione, she was blushing, although her hair created a curtain on either side of her face Fred could see her glance at him every so often. "So." He said to Hermione "'Mione. You coming to the burrow." Hermione turned her head away a bit, she was chewing her lip, "Um." She whispered hoarsly. "Yes? Mother has been busy with cleaning, she just owled to say that she heard about the law. I've got to tell her who my new wife will be." "I suppose." Hermione turned her head back and took another bite out of her food. Fred turned to her and brushed a clump of her hair back behind her ear with his hand. He reached behind her and did the same with her other side. "Your very pretty." He told her.
Hermione went scarlet "Th-thanks." She whispered.
"Wellcome 'Mione." Ginny leaned over "I just remembered who Jo got," Hermione glanced up "Who?" "Krum." Hermione begain to giggle like it was the funniest thing ever "She really likes him, Gin, and they are both quidditch players." "This is funny...how?" Fred asked. "You know Jo?" Hermione turned to Fred to help explain.
"The chaser?" Fred asked.
"Yep." Ginny nodded "She's getting married to Krum." "The seeker from Durmstrang?" "Yes Fred." Hermione grinned "Thats funny." Fred shook his head disbevingly "I don't beleave it, Hermione Jean Granger found something funny." "Shut up!" Hermione laughed, giving Fred a playful shove. "I can have a laugh as well." "Can you prank people?" Fred asked.
"Maybe." Hermione said, wairy of what was to come.
"I'll teach you!" "I'm coming to the burrow, I'll pass your store and grab somthing." Ginny grinned "Grab a love potion." She whispered.
"Togther?" Hermione asked.
"Absaloutly." Ginny replied before turning around to talk with harry.
Fred grinned "Cool...Umm...I'm, uh, tired." Fred stood up "Night guys." Hermione let her hair fall over her face again.
"'Mione, don't do that." The girl blushed and ducked her head as Fred leaned down once more to brush her hair out of the way. "Bye." "Bye fred." Melody slid over. George hurried after his brother "Ok, your in love." "Its brillent!" Ginny cried.
"You MOTHER Gin, how will she take it?" Hermione asked.
"She thinks that you and Ron would be togther, but she'll love it." "I hope so." Hermione whispered.
"Come on, Boys bed." Ginny shooed her brother, boyfriend, friend and caption to the door. "Come on girls, time for bed." Melody, Ginny, Anita, Lavender, Katie and Hermione hurried to the Gryffendor commen rooms. "I'm so glad that everything turned out well." Lavender sighed. Melody grinned "Two people found Luuurrvve." she giggled as Hermione blushed and ducked her head. "Don't do that 'Mione." Ginny mimicked her brother. "See you tomarrow at breakfast Mel."
"Bye." The girl bounced into her dorm and the other girls flew up the stairs to theirs