Hermione PoV
I shook myself awake from the nightmare of the War. It had ended now, and I was beyond endlessly relieved, but the nightmares continued to haunt me.
"Hermione," Mrs Weasley called up the stairs. "Can you come down here a minute?"
I hopped out of her bed, and transfigured my pyjamas into something decent. I grabbed a jumper from the washing pile and ran down the stairs, pulling it on. I skidded into the kitchen and was surprised to see the whole Weasley clan sitting at the elongated kitchen table.
There was Bill and Fleur, with her noticeable baby lump; Ron who was trying not to meet my eyes; Fred, who looked disgusted at something or another; George, who was grimacing and holding his girlfriend Angelina's hand; Charlie, looking more worn down than usual; Mr and Mrs Weasley, watching me enter the room with a grim expression on their faces; Percy and his fiancée Audrey; Ginny, who I saw now, was holding hands with Harry – took them long enough.
I were staying here for the time being – I had been since the end of the War. Harry was staying at Grimmauld Palace, unofficially with Ginny. I still needed to find my parents. But I was surprised to see the others – almost everyone else had moved out by now.
"What is it? Why is everyone here?" I asked, now beginning to get worried.
"Hermione, dear. There's been a letter." I sunk into the seat that Fred had pulled out for me. I relaxed my usual posture and slumped. A letter – that couldn't be too bad – could it? Fred patted my back comfortingly. Mrs Weasley silently handed the letter over to me and I scanned it quickly.
Dear The Burrow household,
Due to the population and happiness decrease in the Second Wizarding War, we have decided to impose a new law.
This is a marriage law. If you are already engaged, then you will have to marry them in 6 months. We will expect at least one child in two years. However, if you are single, then we have picked out a match for you. This document is enclosed within the envelope.
If you are not a British citizen, then you are excused. We will give a one day to adjust to your situation, before we arrange for the meetings between your betrothed.
We have picked out a partner that is suited to you. This has been judged by your tracing spell that every wizard has. Even though it will have disappeared through your coming of age, we will have already received enough information to make a suitable judgement. You will not have met them before. This is to prevent problems from previous arguments.
Divorces will not be permitted from now on unless you have been together for over 5 years. Divorces that are in progress will not be permitted. Of course we advise for you not to split up, as it would affect your future child greatly and cause them a dysfunctional life.
I snorted as I read this part, and looked across at Harry as he raised an eyebrow at me.
"Dysfunctional. They got that right with you Harry!" he rolled his eyes and gestured for me to continue reading the ministry letter.
Disobedience to this law will result in the removal of magical powers and banishment to the Muggle world.
We thank you for your cooperation,
Terminus Reicn
Head of Social Studies.
At the bottom of the letter was a small note.
Percy and I managed to find this a day early, so we have time to adjust and change things. Don't tell anyone – we only had a few influences ~ Arthur & Percy.
I threw down the letter with a growl.
"How could they do this to us? We've only just mended ourselves from the war, and now they expect us to do this!" I exclaimed, outraged. Harry shook his head at me, clearly disagreeing with it too.
"I – um." He looked from me to Ginny and seemed to find new renowned confidence. He pulled out his chair and knelt down on one knee. Ginny's eyes widened almost comically. She pulled in a breath and answered before he could ask the question.
"Yes! Yes! I will! A million times yes!" Ginny squealed and flung her arms around him. He managed to extract himself and rolled his eyes at us. I smiled – they were so perfect for each over.
"Well, if you let me ask." He mumbled. She smiled graciously and mimed zipping up her lips, throwing a mischievous wink at the rest of us.
"Ginerva Molly Weasley, I love you with all my heart and soul, and I can't imagine anyone better to spend the rest of my life with. Will you marry me?" He looked into her eyes, and I could tell that he was nervous about the reaction. Like Ginny was going to say no! Anyway, she'd already agreed to it.
She wrapped her arms around him, tightened her hold and gave him a passionate kiss, to which he responded eagerly. They barely came up for air before going at it again. Everyone pointedly looked away. Fred cleared his throat.
"Ew. We do not need to see that." he said, scrunching his nose up.
Ginny pulled herself away from Harry and scowled, while he blushed and straightened his glasses.
"Oi!" she snapped at him, "We just got engaged over here!"
I smiled at them and leaned forwards. "Well I think I congratulations is in order! Molly?" I looked over at Mrs Weasley, who had been pestering me to call her Molly, and she shook herself out of the temporary slumber she had slipped into.
"Oh! Yes, yes!" she shook her head and drew her wand, muttering a spell before beaming at the newly found couple. She squealed and clapped her hands together.
"Another wedding! How exciting! Ginny, we have to start planning!" and before the rest of the table had really processed the information, she was chatting to Ginny about whatever other women do before their weddings. Then, 14 butterbeers came floating in.
"Straight from the Three Broomsticks. I have express mail order on my wand!" Molly exclaimed as she hurriedly passed the drinks around before rushing around to Harry and Ginny and squeezing the two around the middle. I took a swig of my drink, but was left with a sour taste. I was over the moon for these two – they had been falling for each over, at least in Harry's case, since 6th year. However, I felt that we should address the pressing issue – the marriage law. I frowned as it tried to find an obvious loophole to the law. I couldn't find any – I would have to read up on it.
Mrs Weasley cleared her throat and moved back to her chair.
"Well, I'm assuming that you'll want to know who you're matched with." She smiled weakly.
"Bloody hell! Of course we do!" shouted Ron in his usual over reactive manner. George held up one finger and everyone looked down the table at him.
"Actually, Angie and I have been meaning to tell you something." He looked down again uncomfortably. Fred was looking at his twin, confused.
"And – just to let you know before you start attacking me – this was only settled two days ago. We were just waiting for the perfect moment to tell you." He paused again and looked everyone in the eye before continuing. Angelina squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"We're engaged to be married." The second half of his sentence was drowned out by a small scream from Mrs Weasley. George leaned back, an amused expression on his face. Fred just looked astonished. He quickly recovered his composure and put on the cool the twins were so famous for.
"Congrats, l'il bro!" he winked at George; he growled.
"For the last time, I am older than you! By 14 minutes!" he looked over to Angelina for backup. "Tell him Angie!" he whined. She just smiled at him and rolled her eyes.
"I can't believe someone that immature is getting married." Bill shook his head. Mrs Weasley let out a squeal again, and she ran around the table to clutch her son's head to her chest.
"Oh Georgikins! You're so grown up now!"
Bill looked at his mum, disbelief etched onto his face.
"I swear I just said the opposite of that." He turned to Charlie. "Didn't I just say the opposite of that?" Charlie nodded his head, clearly at ease as it was clear he was exempt from the law. He was on a joint British-Romanian citizenship still.
"Molly, calm yourself, you can fuss over this later. Right now, these three will want to know who they have ended up with." Mr Weasley gestured at the one twin left, Ron and I. I was worried about who I was going to end up with – the letter said that I wouldn't know them.
"But first, Harry, here's yours." He handed Harry a slip of fresh parchment and he unfolded it. Ginny studied it with a frown and then let out a laugh.
"'Ou vere you meant to be vive 'Arry?" Fleur asked, and worry line crossing her beautiful face. He smiled up at her, and passed it across the table. I shifted my chair a little closer so that I could also read it.
Harry James Potter is herby betrothed to Ginerva Molly Weasley.
We apologize for the misinformation in the letter to you, as our Daily Prophet readers would not be happy with the results if we matched you two any differently.
My jaw dropped in disbelief. This wasn't fair! Just because he was famous...
"Wait!" I spoke up. "Can't everyone just say that they're engaged?" Audrey shook her head sadly at me. She was the only one who hadn't made eye contact with me yet.
"Hermione – they can track engagement when a wizard commits. Sorry." She looked down, almost ashamed that she had to be saying these words. Percy patted her back soothingly. Not to sound selfish, but wasn't I meant to be getting comforted? I was going to have to marry a complete stranger!
Mr Weasley handed Ron his slip and hesitated before giving me mine.
"I think the Ministry made a slip up but – ah – lets not mention it, shall we?" he told me with a sparkle in his eye. He passed me the slip of parchment and I slit it open with shaking hands. My eyes widened as I looked over it.
"Dad, why haven't I been given a –" Fred cut of, looking at the writing in my hand over my shoulder. He grabbed it out of my hand, and held it up to the light, as I remembered Harry telling me that George did so long ago with Ron's prefect letter. There, written clearly on the thick parchment with the official wax Ministry stamp on the other side, were the words:
Hermione Jean Granger is hereby betrothed to Fred Gideon Weasley.
