Author's Note: Hi everyone! I'm Saffidl Zabini. Before you read the story, let me tell you a little bit about the background before this plot. Hermione is 25 years old, having graduated from Hogwarts 8 years ago. Harry and Ginny broke up directly after Ginny graduated, both having forgotten why they were really together in the first place. The break-up was really dramatic, though, because Ginny incorrectly thought that Harry was cheating on her when he wasn't. They're still friends, though-don't worry! Ron and Hermione were never boyfriend-girlfriend at all. Everyone that died in the War is still dead, with the exception of Tonks. Oh! And I know that either Crabbe or Goyle died in the 7th book...I think it was Crabbe. In this Fanfic, Crabbe is still alive and Goyle committed suicide a couple of years after the War. Hermione's parents are still obliviated. Last but not least, Penelope Clearwater and Percy Weasley were engaged, but Penelope called it off at the last minute claiming he wasn't the right guy for her.
I like reviews, but please remember that I work hard on all of my stories. I appreciate any constructive criticism you may have for me, but please no flames. Also, my stories are my own work. Don't copy them in any way.
Disclaimer: Although the plot is all mine, the characters and some of the locations in this Fanfic belong to J.K. Rowling. I am not trying to copy her work in any way, shape, or form.
Hermione sat at her kitchen counter, biting her lip like she always did when she was deeply pondering something. She had just come home from her weekly lunch with Ginny, her definite Best Friend. After Ginny and Harry had broken up last year, Hermione and Ginny's friendship really strengthened due to Hermione helping Ginny through all of the drama. Anyways, Hermione was confused because her friend was acting really, really weird. The memory floated back to her.
"Wow! You were right, Ginny! This restaurant is really good!"
"Thanks. I've only ever been here once before, but I thought it was delicious. I'm glad you liked it." Ginny responded, motioning to the server for the check, which was really similar to a muggle one, it just magically withdrew the amount of money from your vault at Gringotts when you put your signature down. As the two women got the check, the red headed one started to talk again.
"Hey Hermione, um...do you think you could do something for me?"
"Sure, anything!"
"Well, you really need to trust me. You trust me, right?" Ginny asked, fidgeting her fingers a little as they walked out of the restaurant and down Diagon Alley.
Hermione stopped walking, and shook Ginny. "Gin, you KNOW I trust you!" She exclaimed, shaking her friend back and forth.
"Okay, okay! Well, I need you to come somewhere with me, with a enough clothing to last you 2 months. Like, in a bag with one of those crazy concealment charms you do so well on it. And then bring like, your toothbrush and hairbrush and wand, of course."
The girls continued walking. "Where would be going?" Hermione asked curiously. Knowing her friend, it could be anywhere.
"Ahhh. That, Hermione is TOP SECRET. Remember, you trust me!" Ginny smiled mischievously.
Hermione chuckled. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me where it is."
"NO! Never!" Ginny playfully punched her best friend.
Hermione crossed her arms tight over her chest. "Well then I'm not going."
Ginny quickly pulled Hermione into a corner inside of George's joke shop. "Hermione, you have been single since you graduated Hogwarts: 8 years ago! You're job is one you hate more than anything-you work at a tiny, cramped office for VINCENT CRABBE! You work for the dumbest person I've ever met! You need more than that in life! You need...a man..."
"-who are we talking about now, Ginny-Kinny?" George swooped down, interrupting the two girls' conversation, just as Hermione was about to indignantly reply to Ginny's comment. Sub-consciously the pair had walked into Weasley Wizarding Wheezes.
"George!" Hermione shrieked. "You nearly scared me to death!"
"Did I now? I'm so very sorry, my dear Hermy-own-ninny!" George laughed, mimicking Hermione's date to the Yule Ball in 4th year, Viktor Krum. "Gin, are you asking Hermione if she'll go with you to-"
"GEORGE! Don't say it! She'll never agree if she knows where we're going!" Ginny screamed at the top of her lungs, attracting many stares from customers in the shop. By then, Hermione was a little overwhelmed. She checked her watch.
"Guys, it was nice seeing you. Gin...I'll pack my bag with my "crazy concealment charm I do so well". When and how are we getting to where we're going?" Hermione asked, nervous about what she had just signed herself up for.
"I arranged a Portkey at the Ministry for Friday, the day after tomorrow. You can meet me at the Burrow, since I live there, obviously, and that's where the Ministry's sending the Portkey. Come at 9 AM sharp."
"Okay, then. It was nice seeing you two. Gin, I'll see you on Friday at 9 sharp." Hermione departed, walking back to Flourish & Blotts to buy a romance novel that had caught her eye when she walked past the shop earlier. Once she had purchased the book, The Kiss Before Sunset, she Apparated home, whisked away into her thoughts as she already started to plan her "2 month's supply" of clothing for her mystery trip.
After getting home, Hermione had quickly packed up her beaded bag with all of the supplies for her trip to who-knows-where. Her curiosity really boosted when she received an owl from Ginny telling her to be sure to pack at least four nice dress robes. She packed up all of her favorite clothes, including the 4 old dress robes she hardly used. Now, as she sat at the counter munching on an apple, she thought about how good it would be for her to be getting 2 months off. Hermione hardly went on vacations, knowing how busy she was with her job that she hated so much. To be quite frank, Ginny had been right about her life. She needed to put herself out there, fall in love and start a real life for herself. She couldn't keep living in a box with only her and her work. She had to get a social life, no matter what it took.
The next day when Hermione woke up, she realized that she had to go face her boss, Crabbe. The only days off she got were the weekends, of course, and Wednesdays which was why her weekly lunch with Ginny was always on a Wednesday. Even though he would never even be remotely smart, Vincent Crabbe did know how to be a boss. He, thus his job position, bossed everyone around all the time. He HATED it when his employees took an extra day off. Hermione worried about breaking the news to him that she would be out of work for two months. As she pulled her thick, citrine striped duvet off of her, she thought about her job. Unlike most people, she could easily start her own business or even make her way to one of the top positions of someone else's extremely quickly. Why did she even bother to stay put in her horrendous job? Now that Hermione had built up the courage to be a little bit of a dare-devil and go with Ginny to a "mystery spot", she was in a role to change her miserable life for the better. She would quit her job! After coming back from the vacation, she could start her own business...how about a book company? No, that wouldn't pay enough for her rent each month. Hermione considered the idea of becoming an author while she was brushing her teeth, but again, what if that didn't pay enough? Besides, it was something that she could always do as a hobby. Then, as she got dressed in a plaid short-skirt and a white button-up blouse, it hit her. What if she started a publishing company? It was perfect for her, knowing how much she loved books. She could be the editor of all of the books, since she was naturally always looking out for typos. And, considering that the only other publishing company in the wizarding world was called Typo Galore and hadn't published a book in 2 years and 3 months, Hermione felt she had a pretty good chance. Also, the income would be terrific! The only problem was that she didn't have any friends who didn't have jobs. You see, she would need some assortment of employees to help with the magical printing process of each book, and the people to advertise the company. Hermione dreaded starting a company with people working for her that she didn't like. She'd need to try and convince some of her friends to quit their own jobs and join her company, too. She figured she could start the company after her vacation with Ginny. By then, she will have made a list of possible employees, a logo, and a name for the company. Her dreaming coming to a stop, Hermione looked down at her watch. If she didn't leave now, she'd be late to her last day of work! Rushing out the door, Hermione Apparated to her workplace, an office devoted towards St. Mungo's patients. Although it wasn't actually the hospital, the office managed all of the patient files. Crabbe was sitting behind the front desk, with his feet propped up on the desk. Hermione rolled her eyes. Leave it to Crabbe to make someone walking into the office think he was a total slob. Which he was. Pushing the true thought away, Hermione triumphantly marched over to her boss.
"Granger." Vincent drawled, rudely greeting his employee.
"Crabbe." Hermione responded in the same tone. "I quit." Crabbe looked at Hermione, his mouth slowly opening, revealing his shock. Before he had any chance to reply, Hermione left the office without even a glance back.
After waking up Friday morning, Hermione quickly Apparated to the Burrow, arriving 15 minutes early. It was very busy there. Hermione had thought that just her and her best friend would be going on this trip, and she was definitely wrong. Many people were frantically running around the Burrow. The Weasley clan was all there, with Ron lugging a great big suitcase behind him. Hermione quickly correctly guessed that her red headed male friend would be going on the vacation as well. Harry was there, also with a big suitcase. Ron and Harry seemed to be having a very serious conversation, what seemed to be about marriage. Hermione didn't want to know. She stiffled a laugh at both of the boys' forgetful minds. Instead of carrying huge suitcases with all of their clothing, they easily just could have used a concealment charm like she herself had used. Lavendar Brown was at the Burrow, as well. Hermione had never liked her, and all of the snogging with Ron hadn't helped in 6th year. She felt that the kissing just wasn't at all necessary-she never was jealous of them, though. The bushy-haired bookworm spotted Luna Lovegood and Hannah Abbott having a dreamy conversation, and it seemed like Ernie MacMillan was there, too. Oh! And back in the corner was Justin Finch-Fletchley. He was always really private and kept to himself. As Hermione landed, she quickly walked over to Ginny.
"Gin!" Hermione whisper-yelled.
The long haired girl turned around, seeing her friend. "Oh! Hey, Hermione. I was just chatting with George here about what your reaction to all this would be."
"Well, why are there so many people here? What's going on?"
Ginny looked anxiously up at her older brother, who smiled knowingly at her. "I...ah...well, do you want to know where we're going, first?"
Hermione's eyes widened. "Yes, yes! Tell me!" She looked like a little kid in a candy store.
"Well, we are going to be part of a, um... a tvshowkindalikethemugglebachelorexceptforthatitisprettydifferent!" Ginny sped up the location name.
"Whoa, okay. Slow it down. I won't get mad." Hermione smiled encouragingly to her friend.
"Um, well, I kind of signed you up with me and a lot of other girls to a dating show. Everyone on it has to be from Hogwarts, and they were looking for interesting people, like you! I'm on it, too, along with Lavender, and Luna, and lots of other people. Everyone here right now will be taking the Portkey with us."
"GINEVRA MOLLY WEASLEY!" Hermione shouted, with all of the eyes on her right now. "I can't believe you! How dare you sign me up for some stupid show!" Her eyes were like red hot daggers.
"I'm sorry!" Ginny said calmly, being used to her friend's outbursts like this. "I have a pamphlet for you. I figured you'd come around and see that I'm right about your life. That you would do the show."
Hermione cooled down. "Ginny-I know you're right about my life. Merlin's beard, I quit my job yesterday! It's okay, I just...you know. I'll look at the pamphlet in a little bit."
Ginny grinned and hugged Hermione. "Yes! You finally left that cursed position! You have no idea how happy I am! What are you going to do for a job now?"
"It's complicated-I'll tell you later. Why are Harry and Ron and Ernie and Justin here? I mean, I know Ron lives here. But why do they all have luggage?
"They are some of the bachelors. You see, there are two from every house at Hogwarts. Ron and Harry are Gryffindor, obviously, and Justin and Ernie are Hufflepuff. I'm not sure who the bachelors are from Slytherin or Ravenclaw.
George interrupted. "I'll bet you 5 galleons Malfoy is one of them. The problem: are there any Slytherin female purebloods on the show?"
Ginny looked up at her brother disapprovingly. He didn't want to scare Hermione off, did he? They both new how much Hermione, Harry, and Ron despised Malfoy. And Ginny had just gotten Hermione okay with the idea of being on the T.V. show! Pushing her worried thoughts off, the youngest Weasley returned to talking. "Each of the girls, there are 30 total, will be assigned one of the bachelors to go on a first date with, then a different bachelor for the second date and so on and so on. In the first two weeks, you will have already been on at least one date with each of the bachelors. 2 times in the first 2 weeks, the girls have to fill out a form, I think, of which bachelor they think is the cutest, smartest, etc. This helps the show managers set up dates with the bachelors and girls. After the first 2 weeks are over, each boy will get to pick 3 girls to date them for the next two weeks. So, 6 girls will be eliminated. Then, the next two weeks, one girl from each boy's selection will be eliminated, and then in the last weeks the boys will each get to pick one of the girls to get married to. Of course, the girls don't have to marry them. They can back out if they want to, but that has never happened before on the show." Ginny explained, shockingly clearly.
"How do you know all of this?" Hermione asked, clearly still a little ticked off.
"It's all in the pamphlet."
"Then give me the pamphlet right now!" Hermione exclaimed, hinting a teensy bit of excitement in her voice.
Ginny handed over the brochure-like paper. "Okay, but you only have 2 minutes to read it because it's 8:58 and the Portkey takes off at 9."
Hermione scoffed, easily absorbing all of the information in under a minute. The pamphlet just said pretty much everything that Ginny had told her, but there were a couple of other things. The show was called Magical Marriage: Hogwarts Alumni!, but most people just referred to it as Magical Marriage. Apparently, the boys could have any girl on the show that they wanted in their "selection", even if another boy also had her. This meant that technically, the number of girls eliminated each 2 weeks could vary. If two or more of the boys picked the same final girl, the one they wanted to marry, she could pick between them. Also, the weddings would be payed for by the show. Other than that, though, there wasn't anything else that Ginny hadn't told Hermione. There would most likely be some surprises, too.
"Hey, 'Mione!" Harry and Ron came up to their friend, both giving her a hug.
"Harry! Ron! It's so good to see you two!"
Her friends looked worried all of a sudden. "Are you okay with this T.V. show? It seems like the kind of thing you wouldn't want to do. You know, like you're always studying and reading and stuff. And telling us to do the same."
"Well, I guess you're right...but you make me sound all boring! Besides, I'm trying to change things up a bit." Hermione explained.
Ron and Harry lifted their eyebrows at her. "How so?" Ron asked.
"Well, I quit my job, I'm doing this...oh! And for my new job I think I'm going to open my own publishing company!"
Ginny's eyes opened wide. "You're starting your own COMPANY? Woo-hoo for Hermione!"
Harry spoke up. "Whoa! You really are tryin-"
A loud popping noise could be heard from across the huge room, interrupting the Boy-Who-Lived. "Oh! The Portkey's here!" Ginny announced excitedly. Sure enough, a Christmas wreath appeared near the fireplace. Apparently, the object that would transport everyone to the setting of Magical Marriage was a wreath.
After only a few short seconds passed, Mrs. Weasley spoke sternly and loudly. "Everybody gather around the Portkey, the wreath, but DO NOT touch it yet. Once everyone that is on the show is in a circle surrounding it, then you can all touch it at the same time. Have a nice two months!"
Hermione, Ginny, Harry, and Ron all walked over to the Portkey together. Soon, everyone else was standing around it. Hermione found herself in between Luna and Ginny. Molly Weasley counted down from three, and then everyone took hold of the beautiful wreath. Hermione immediately recognized the exciting, frightening feeling of a Portkey. Within a minute or two, the group all had their feet on the ground.
Gasps could be heard all around.
"It's so beautiful!" Hermione gasped.
"Whoa." Harry looked around excitedly.
Ginny shared the same expression as Harry. "Now that's something you don't see everyday."