Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, nor am I employed by any entity that holds rights to Harry Potter and his universe. I am making no money from writing this story, Muggle or Wizard, and am simply borrowing anything recognizable to play with. In short, it isn't mine.
`Chapter one - The Edict
It had to be February. The middle of February, to be exact. Once again, the Ministry of Magic was requiring its employees to get their semi-annual physical and mental evaluation. Ever since the war against Voldemort had ended, the Ministry had insisted that all their employees maintain a healthy lifestyle. They also used it as an excuse to keep tabs on everyone and to ensure that no one was acting under any curses. Even though the Dark wizard was gone, people were still a bit paranoid.
So it was on a dreary Wednesday morning when Hermione Granger found herself in front of the Ministry-sanctioned healers at St. Mungo's on her lunch break. There were, as always, the requisite forms inquiring about such mundane details like the date (16 February 2005), her marital status (single, but soon to change to married once her fiance agreed to set the date) and any known allergies (none). However, this time around, there was another form relating to blood status, siblings, family histories of all sorts of diseases both Muggle and wizard, and a signature line for consent to test, whatever that meant. She had just decided to ask the healer about it when her name was called and she found herself walking back to an examination room.
About fifteen minutes later, the healer had finally walked into the room to begin the examination. He was a tall wizard, older, with grey hair and overly long eyebrows. In his left hand was her medical record and he used his right to flip through the forms she had filled out while waiting. Without looking up at her, he asked various questions to ensure he had the information correct.
'Now, Miss Granger,' he began. 'It says here that you are a Muggleborn. Is that correct?'
'Yes,' she replied.
'And approximately ten years ago you were hit with a curse that you are still unsure about?'
'Yes.'
The healer paused in his perusal of the papers and finally raised his eyes to the young witch in front of him. With a slight cock of his left eyebrow, he inquired about the curse and proceeded to listen to her retell the tale of that fateful day in the Department of Mysteries when she had nearly been taken out by Antonin Dolohov. Hermione had to bite back her laughter when, about mid-story, she saw the light flicker on behind the wizened healer s eyes as he realized who exactly was seated on his exam table.
'OH! Dear me, Miss Granger. My apologies! I didn't realize who you were, he sputtered. You must understand how busy we are right now with all these Ministry tests going on which reminds me. You forgot to sign the bottom of this form.'
'Yes, about that. What exactly is the consent for?'
'It's just simple blood tests, Miss Granger. I am surprised that they haven't told you at work. The Ministry is creating a catalogue of all magical signatures in an effort to have a better grasp of the magical community. They are also attempting to locate the magical genes in order to expand our shrinking population. It's for research, basically.'
She couldn't say no to research. Even that evening, when her mind went to the possible ramifications of the Ministry holding all that knowledge and their possible uses for it, she couldn't find fault with it. Her confidence in Minister Shacklebolt wouldn't allow her to think ill of a Ministry that had accomplished so much in the six years or so since the final fall of Lord Voldemort.
The work week continued on as it normally would for the young witch. After Voldemort had been defeated, she and Ron Weasley had officially gotten together. Much to the chagrin of Ron's mother, Molly, the two didn't immediately get married in the rush of it all. They took their time with each other and allowed their relationship to grow from the best friends they were while at Hogwarts, to a young couple just starting out and eventually to lovers. Ron and Hermione eventually moved in to a small but comfortable flat close to the heart of Muggle London and both took jobs at the Ministry. They lived together for two and a half years before Ron took Hermione to Paris on holiday and proposed to her at sunset under the Eiffel Tower. It was a trip she wouldn't soon forget. Dinner immediately followed her affirmative response and the two discussed plans for the big day, never actually setting a date, but agreeing that whenever it did happen, the ceremony would be small and not in England. Ron had jokingly suggested Las Vegas in the United States for the setting, but much to his surprise, Hermione agreed. It would be perfect.
They settled into the life of an engaged couple, having dinner with Harry Potter and his fiance Ginny Weasley once a week and shopping for all the things that couples are supposed to have. Furniture was purchased along with new appliances and assorted electronics and the once drab flat became theirs in name and feel. Their jobs took a lot from them but they didn't mind in the slightest. Even after those wonky Ministry required healer visits, like the one she had attended that morning, she knew that the love of her life would be there for her at the end of the day.
It was a few days later when Hermione was sitting down to dinner with Ron, discussing their respective days, that the subject of blood tests came up. Apparently Ron had also been to the healer that week and thought nothing of signing his consent. They discussed their visits briefly before beginning to speculate what hoops the Ministry would have them jumping through next. The conversation bled from dinner to afters and before they knew it, it was time for bed.
They climbed into bed together and Ron immediately moved between Hermione s legs, kissing her deeply and passionately while restraining her arms above her head. Once he was sure his knots wouldn't come free, he ran his fingers lightly down her arms, pausing to torture her a little by tickling her armpits. She simultaneously loved and hated when he would tickle her. The torment of knowing that he was right there, touching her and yet not always drove her crazy. Having her wrists bound to the headboard just increased the sensation for her and she would always struggle against the bonds as if begging him to stop while never actually saying the words.
He eased off a bit, taking his time to kiss his way across her chest, laving attention to her left nipple while expertly pinching and plucking her right. Ron continued to tease and torment her as she writhed beneath him, pleading for him to stop teasing and just take her. He didn't let up when her whimpers turned to cries nor when her cries turned into outright screams. Only when she was outright begging for release, release from his tickling, release from his onslaught on her overly sensitive breasts, release of a more sexual nature, did he finally line up his cock and plunge deep into her.
She loved the way he felt buried deep inside of her. It was pure, unadulterated bliss. Every time he would thrust into her, she would arch her hips up to meet his, loving the way his breath would hitch. He filled his hands with her hair and held on, pulling slightly every now and then to turn her head this way or that so that he could assault her neck with his mouth and drive her closer to her ultimate destination. They rocked against each other for a time that seemed both endless and not long enough before Ron untied her and they climaxed into blissful slumber.
Saturday morning was bleeding into the afternoon before the lovers awoke to meet the world. Not having planned their lie in, they quickly jumped from the bed, showered and made their way into the kitchen for a quick meal before heading out to complete their usual Saturday chores. After a trip to Diagon Alley and the local grocery store, they decided to stop off at McDonald's to pick up dinner for the night. Once they were home and the groceries all put away, Ron closed the Floo while Hermione set the table.
'Did you still want to go to Las Vegas, love?' inquired Ron.
Hermione paused mid-motion, a fry held less than an inch from her mouth, as she surveyed him. She noticed that he wasn't meeting her eyes and knew that something was up. He continued without looking at her.
'Well, it s just that I know you want your privacy and Ginny and Harry have agreed to go along so that we can have witnesses that mean someth-'
His arms were full of sobbing witch before he could finish his words. She had knocked into him so hard that they fell into a heap on the floor, food forgotten as she peppered his face with kisses. Ron was finally able to extricate himself from her enough to fill her in on the details.
'The flights and hotel are already booked. We re going to be staying at a hotel called the Bellagio and getting married on their Terrazzo Di Sogno. Everything is taken care of. Your hair and make up will be done there, they provide a photographer and catering and we will even be going to see that Circle Solay thing you wanted to see.'
'It's Cirque du Soleil,' she laughed.
'Whatever. We leave in three weeks. The only thing that needs to be taken care of is our marriage license and we can apply for that at work on Monday morning.'
The weekend passed in a whirl of planning and celebratory sex. Hermione was overjoyed not only with Ron's initiative to set a date but also for remembering things that she had mentioned months previous, like her desire to see Cirque du Soleil. In all their talks since becoming engaged, they had agreed on a small ceremony someplace far from England, where they were akin to royalty. Sure enough, when they applied for their license on Monday just before lunch, people started talking and gossiping about it. Even a week later, people were still going on and on about how two thirds of the famous Trio were finally getting married.
That evening, on the final Monday in February, Hermione and Ron were talking about how there must not be much going on out in the world for their pending nuptials to still be causing such a ruckus. Both hoped that something would come along soon to take the heat off of their relationship because the more speculation there was around their decision, the more likely it was that unwanted guests would find their way to America to witness their vows.
The next morning, they got their wish in the form of a Ministry owl, one for each of them.
Edict Maritus
By Order of the Minister for Magic The following law now applies to all magical beings living in the combined colony of the British Isles:
The Reunification and Maritare Law was passed this morning by a majority vote of the Wizengamot Government. As of this date March 1st- 2005 all Muggleborn and Halfblood magical beings will be compliant to the newest law. Failure to do so will result in the binding of their magic and stiff monetary penalties. By reading this edict- you submit to our law and agree to its terms.
Minister of Magic- Kingsley Shacklebolt.
