Deep inside she felt the aching sensation that overwhelmed her every now and then. The desire for her mothers hold. A fathers promise to make everything for his only daughters problems to miraculously vanish. How she missed it, but Hermione had known what she had to give up. The protection she had to give them. But sadly… she could never see them again.

Barbaric. That was the only word that could fit well in the situation. It was so cruel and unrefined. Maybe from her muggle ways but this just didn't seem normal in any way of living. Who could live a life in an arranged marriage? Maybe for purebloods, what with their families wanting to keep their beliefs and ways passed through their family.

The ministry had even claimed a proper spell was used in order to match everyone together. But that couldn't be right. It seemed to be a faulty love potion. It just didn't seem possible or real.

But as her skinny fingers traced along the paper… it proved the reality of her situation.

Hermione sat back in her chair. This was as quiet as it could possibly be in the Weasley home. Everyone had separated to different rooms. Harry returned to the ministry to try and get some order from this awful situation. Ron had stormed off to his room and slammed the door. Only the quiet whispers of Molly and Ginny could barely be heard, their words being too quiet to really make out.

Hermione stood and moved to her new bed. Molly had been so kind to let her reside in Fred and George's vacant room. It was eerie for Hermione at first. A few of their old prank toys still left and her accidentally setting them off. She slowly grew to find the room comforting however.

Even though now, she was finding an eerie feeling from the room again. An outrageous law passed. It seemed like nothing was going to be able to be done. A Marriage Law passed a week ago and the letters had finally been sent out today. The name of the person they were to now spend the rest of their life with. Divorce wasn't allowed unless under circumstances Hermione probably couldn't be able to meet.

It hadn't helped that horrible side effects were to come from the soul bound spell, cheating meant death and many other things listed. It was a forced life to try and help cure a corrupt world because one man had destroyed everything. According to Harry, whom had sat in many meetings trying to fight against this new law, the spell was supposed to be very accurate. Hermione just couldn't fathom it and would much rather sit in denial that a spell could do that. It couldn't force two people together and in love. It was just so wrong.

She looked at the large letters that spelled her future husbands name. It seemed far too surreal. In a way she expected magic to take over and change the name. A potential mistake, maybe? But the name had remained the same since she had received the letter.

Fred Weasley

How could she possibly marry the prankster? Sure they got along splendidly, but as friends. Not too mention he had just gotten out of an engagement with Angelina Johnson after she fled with Oliver Wood. A story she didn't know much about, only hearing what Ginny would tell her.

According to George though, Fred hadn't been himself. He was angry and distant even from his own cherished twin. Could Hermione involve herself in that? She never had seen either of the twins angry, but she had heard stories of them being angry and vindictive from Ron. She didn't want to involve herself in that if that was what in store.

He had been entirely distant from everyone after the Battle of Hogwarts. His injury so severe that the Weasley's believed they might lose him. It took almost a year and a half for Fred to fully recover. Even then, he just seemed different. Entirely too off from his usual self.

A subtle knock turned her attention away from the letter and her current thoughts. Her brown orbs now gazing upon the older woman who peeked into the room.

"How are you holding up, darling girl?" Molly asked with the warmth of a true mother.

Hermione was speechless for a few moments and managed to force a smile to ease the others worry. "It could be worse, Mrs. Weasley."

Molly's gentle and motherly nature took over. With a loud "Oh", filled with pity, the round woman entered the room and took hold of the younger girls shoulder.

"You're so strong, but you don't have to be. It's okay to be upset, you're among family."

"Thank you," Hermione said softly, moving her hands up to hold on to Molly's.

"I'm just grateful you get to be apart of the family still," Molly reminded sweetly. "We have all grown to love you so much."

Hermione just smiled and tightened her grip on the others hand. Her appreciation clear, the Weasley's had done so much for her. She could never repay such a debt.

"I should get back to the kitchen, Arthur should be home soon. Take your time getting ready for dinner, sweetie." Molly had turned to exit when something in the room had caught her eye. She lifted her eyebrow slightly and smiled softly to herself.

"I suppose there is some hope in this. Did you know you picked the bed Fred used to sleep in?"

Hermione felt her face become paler and her eyes grew wider. "I had no idea," she whispered with a stiff tone.

Molly nodded and continued to smile to herself. "Huh…. I'll shout for when dinner is ready." With that final statement, the comfort of Mrs. Weasley's presences was gone.

Hermione looked at her bed that she had grown so used to, like it was foreign now. As if something had changed about it in the past few minutes. She walked over to her bed and put a hand where she rested her head at night. The same place Fred had once rested his.

"Do you think he will be here for dinner tonight?" Ginny's voice called, making Hermione snap back her hand as if caught. She turned to look at her red head female best friend with wide eyes.

"You scared me."

"Sorry," the youngest Weasley apologized and stepped more into the room. "But do you?"

"Fred?" Hermione paused, stuck on that thought. Even since the battle his appearances for family dinner on Sundays was extremely rare. He had the excuses of therapy, spending time with Angelina before. George would joke and just say he probably wanted some alone time with her finally being able to work in that way again. But when Angelina had left, Fred had just begun saying he didn't want to come, breaking Molly and Arthur's heart. "I don't know…" Hermione replied quietly, her eyes now casted to the ground. She really needed to speak with him about this at some point.

"Right… I'm going to go help mum with dinner… do you want to help?" Ginny asked, posing a distraction for both the girls. Hermione shook her head and just smiled softly to the other.

"I am actually going to take a much needed bubble bath. I think it will clear my head." Ginny nodded and smiled back to the brunette before leaving.

Hermione undressed and put a purple robe on, gathering her things for the bathroom. Before exiting the room she turned to give it a final look. It seemed for foreign now… she might want to look into switching beds. With that thought she turned on her heel, away from the room, to go take the long bubble bath she desired.