The perfect life? Chapter 1, a harry potter fanfic

Ginny was alone, at last, the steam from her bath slowly relaxed her muscles and soothed her aching head. She had had a long day of quidditch practice which her long standing boyfriend, Harry Potter, had introduced every Saturday in the hopes of winning the cup during his final year.

She mulled over her thoughts as she often did during her baths and thought about her life, sometimes she couldn't help but think that something was missing.

After the war she and Harry had commenced their relationship and were now in the awkward phase where Harry had brought up the mention of physical relations, so she supposed on that front she was doing well enough.

Her studies were also progressing well, most probably due to the fact that Hermione was in almost all her lessons with her now as she had missed out on her NEWTs the year before, as had Harry, Ron, Dean and many others.

Her family loved her and she was given everything she wanted, providing they could afford it, so on that front nothing seemed to be missing either.

Ginny always reached this point during her contemplation, there was nothing missing from her life, so why did it seem so empty somehow?

She quickly ducked her head in the water to dispel the unhappy thoughts that came upon her, she had never been one to moan and that would not change now.

She got out of the bath hurriedly and changed into her pyjamas, it was late and she needed to rest as her and Harry were going to Hogsmeade the next day for a few drinks and no doubt they would end up arguing the subject of physical relationships again as they always did.

Ginny shook her head slowly as she climbed into her four poster bed, boys really were clueless.

*****

The next day, Hogsmeade.

"Gin, come on we've talked about this a million times," Harry said, glugging down his butterbeer. "We're both of age, I'm 18, you're 17, we're in love, why would we wait?"

Ginny sighed heavily, why did they always have to argue about this? Why couldn't he just accept she wasn't ready?

"Harry I've told you, I'm not ready, just leave it already."

"No, Gin, I won't. I'm fed up of leaving it, don't you love me? Aren't I enough for you?"

"Of course I love you, I just... I'm just..."

They had reached the point in the argument where Harry normally gave up, true to form he sighed heavily and then launched into a description of the current situation in Dean and Lavender's relationship, all Ginny heard through the haze of her thoughts was the fact that Dean had apparently written to Lavender's parents to ask for her hand in marriage without Lavender knowing.

Ginny thanked God that Harry was not as clueless as this, yes they may argue but he'd never do anything as stupid as that, in Ginny's mother and father's eyes Harry could do no wrong, if the situation arose Ginny could see them consenting.

She shuddered inwardly and turned back to Harry, worrying herself a little that the idea of Harry marrying her did not seem appealing, but she calmed herself by remembering that she was 17, marriage was not appealing to any normal seventeen year old.

"So yeah... and she was like DEAN! Then she agreed, I'm telling you Gin, she agreed, there and then in the middle of our common room!"

"What?" said Ginny, his ramblings had finally gained her attention.

"She agreed Gin, they're getting married, Ron says it's because Lavender must be pregnant. Jealous, or what? And it makes no sense because he's with Hermione."

Ginny nodded to Harry, now the initial shock of his sentence was over she was back to drifting into her own world, apparently she'd been wrong, some seventeen year olds did want to get married. She knew that young marriages barely ever lasted though so what was the point in them commencing? With six brothers her romantic side was seemingly underdeveloped.

****

Ginny stayed wrapped up in her own thoughts all through their date and threw into her dinner, as was usual Harry was quite happy to carry on talking to his 'attentive' girlfriend, and she was quite content to carry on 'listening'.

Now she sat at the dinner table, picking at the remains of her potato.

"Ginny, are you alright?"

"Huh?"

"Earth to Ginny, Hermione here."

"Oh sorry, 'Mione. I'm okay thank you, just a little tired, worrying about schoolwork."

"Oh," said Hermione looking down at her food, completely satisfied with the answer. "Schoolwork of course, I understand."

Ginny smiled inwardly to herself, Hermione was very intuitive but the mere mention of schoolwork was enough to subdue her.

Just as Ginny was about to drift back into her own thoughts again a great tapping at the windows of the great hall made her jump and she turned to stare.

Thirty or so owls were tapping impatiently on the window, all with large important looking scrolls tied to their legs, headmistress McGonagall waved the window open with a swish of her wand and the owls flew in, dispersing across the hall, to various students.

Professor McGonagall flew down the hall it seemed, approached the nearest student with a letter and read it, before shrieking "Good heavens!" and shaking her head in disdain.

It took a while before Ginny tore her eyes from the commotion and looked down to realise that she and Hermione both had scrolls, Hermione's was lying open in front of her, with Hermione scanning it quickly. Ginny leant over here shoulder and read it quickly.

Dear Miss Granger,

We are please to inform you that as of today a marriage law has been enforced, the wizarding population dropped drastically during the war and the decrease of the population is everyone's business, as of today you are betrothed. We are please to inform you that forthwith your most compatible suitor is:

Ronald Weasley (18)
Currently residing at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

These engagements are legally binding and we know that your compatibility will be enough to bring many years of happiness for you and your fiancée. Your wedding will be within one month of this letter being sent in the atrium of the Ministry for Magic, although all attire and festivities may be planned by you and your soon to be husband.

As these marriages are for the purpose of procreation we will hope to receive news of your pregnancy within a year of your marriage.

Yours sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

Hermione was shaking her head slowly to herself, a steely glint in her eye.

"Ginny, they can't do this! I... I... I... wanted to get married, yes, but not this soon! Oh my, Ginny, 'we will hope to receive news of your pregnancy within a year of your marriage', hope isn't the right word, they're forcing us, just like these marriages."

"Mmm..." Ginny said, a panicked expression spreading across her face, she didn't want to marry Harry so soon, he would get his way, physical relations were the norm within marriage she'd heard.

"Ginny, come on baby just open it, you know what it's going to say." Said Harry from behind her, seeming completely oblivious to her panic, and obviously unfazed himself.

She opened the letter with trembling hands and read it quickly, her heart stopped, her life was over, she just knew it.

Dear Miss Weasley,

Draco Malfoy (19)
Currently residing at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry

As these marriages are for the purpose of procreation we will hope to receive news of your pregnancy within a year of your marriage.

Yours sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

"NO..." Harry shrieked shrilly. "I'll kill them... I'll kill the lot of them."

Okay, I hoped you liked it, please review it. I just want to know what you think and if you have any suggestions, thank you.