My take on the marriage law. Weasleys are a noble family (rich, some characters act OC, but none are Voldemort/pureblood-is-better supporters). Pairings: Ron/Hermione, Harry/Parvati, Fred/Angelina, George/Alicia, Charlie/Luna, Bill/Katie. No Ginny.

Review to let me know if you want any specific POVs/events!

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Chapter Title credit to Green Day. I do not own Harry Potter, etc.

-Adrienne

Hermione glared at the large manor home in front of her, willing it to burn with the sheer power of her raging thoughts. She was furious. Absolutely furious. Following the war, the ministry had been alarmed by the drastically dropping wizard birth rate, coupled with the raising percent of squib births, and had felt obligated to act. The heinous law, dubbed the Espousal Act, required all magical peoples aged 17 to 35 to marry within two years of its issue. She had been so furious at the prospect of arranged marriage – especially one legally necessary to remain within the wizarding community, with Ministry assigned partners no less.

Now, she was obligated to meet with her new "fiancé" (she scorned the word in such a situation) in this large, cold, unwelcoming house. She had met him at school, where they had been in the same classes, and even the same house. The Weasleys, of course, were quite famous throughout the wizarding world: a whole hoard of young, eligible, wealthy bachelors, one or the other was constantly in Witch Weekly. She had been told she was lucky to be assigned to one of the Weasley Boys, as they were known; the snobby secretary she had argued with even told her it was only because of her part in the war efforts she got such a "good" match.

But Hermione knew Ron; she knew his sneering, disgusting, tactless ways. He went through girl the way most wizards went through quills. She despised the womanizer more than anyone in her year, even more than Draco Malfoy.

The brunette stood glaring at the large door, before it was opened by a confused looking house-elf. Hermione's blood surged; that was the last straw. How could she be expected to marry into a family that kept SLAVES, for Merlin's sake?!

Ron slouched in his seat, not at all impressed he had to spend the evening having a formal dinner with his family and that buck-toothed know-it-all bitch that the ministry had decided he was to marry and not in the pub chatting up girls with his friends. At least Harry would be there too - then again, the golden boy would probably be too preoccupied by the girl he had been "randomly" assigned, Parvati Patil. How convenient for Harry.

All of his brothers with the exception of Bill, who had married Katie Bell a year a half earlier and had a young son with her, had been bachelors before the law. Mum was over the moon; Dad's position in the ministry as a Wizengamot Elder had secured her some subtle sway in the decisions, and every son's worst nightmare came true: Mum chose their future wives, and there was absolutely nothing they could do about it.

Mum absolutely adored Katie, and had been thrilled when Bill and Katie got engaged a few days after Bill was mauled by Greyback. The war-worn couple had been desperate to marry quickly, before anything else could threaten to pull them apart, and got married Christmas Eve of the same year. It was a beautiful winter wedding, but Molly often commented wistfully that she had wished she had more time – and the freedom the end of the war gave – to plan a bigger, more extravagant ceremony, and it seemed now she'd get her wish – five times over, six if you included Harry, which it appeared she was.

He sat in the front parlor with his brothers, snickering as Fred, George, and Charlie told him and Harry in whispers about their latest rendezvous with muggle girls. The Weasleys had never been Voldemort supports, and didn't support muggle-baiting of any kind, but the muggle world gave them the anonymity to be typical rich boys without the bad press they'd get in Diagon Alley. Mum was in the kitchen overseeing the house-elves preparing dinner, Percy and Arthur were in a corner discussing politics, and Bill was yet to arrive. A house elf apparated into the living room, bowing low in front of Dad.

"Master's guests is arrived," The small creature squeaked, and Arthur nodded, standing up.

"Thank you, Morter," the Weasley patriarch said, surveying his assembled sons. "Have you informed Molly?" The elf nodded.

"Mistress is on hers ways," it reported, and Arthur nodded before dismissing it.

"All right boys, here we go."

Molly smiled as she watched the exchanges between her sons and their new beloveds, seemingly oblivious to the awkward movements, lulls in conversation, and death glares. All she ever wanted was for all her sons – Harry included – to have large, happy families, a dream that only grew in intensity after her poor, darling Ginny's death.

She had managed to convince some of her friends among Arthur's colleagues that they might help her get the outcomes for her son's wives that she wanted, and she had succeeded, much to her delight. For Charlie, she had chosen Luna Lovegood, a sweet but airy girl whose mother Molly had known back when they had been poor country-folk living in Ottery . She had heard that her old friend's young daughter was now motherless and left to life with the eccentric Xenophilius, and she had taken action. She figured both her son and Luna had an interest in magical creatures, and would get along wonderfully.

For Percy, her decision had been harder. She knew Percy would not want to miss much work to be home with his wife, and she didn't want to choose a wife for him that would get angry and run off with the sweep that came to clean the fireplace or something just as dreadful. The wizarding world did not have divorces, and she did not want a broken home for her grandbabies; for she did want grandbabies, many, many grandbabies. So, she chose Penelope Clearwater for him. The two had gotten along well in Hogwarts, and she hoped to reconnect the school sweet-hearts.

Fred and George had been harder to pair. She needed girls that would put up with their pranks with patience but with firmness, who would help them mature. And, they must get along; the twins were together constantly. She had decided to choose two of Katie's friends, who she remembered played with the twins on the Gryffindor quiddich team, deciding they'd be accustomed to the twin's ways, and be comfortable with it: Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet. She knew they and Katie were still quite close, and the pairings made sense.

Ron had been harder for her. She knew her youngest was a handful; he was tactless, but quite high maintenance. She needed a girl patient and kind and completely in love with him, but she knew her youngest had himself an unfavorable reputation. Her problem had been solved when the minister subtly suggested that she match him with Harry's friend Hermione, and her problems had been over with ease.

Harry, of course, had gotten to all but choose his fiancée directly through the minister. Parvati was one of the prettiest girls in their year, the other being her twin sister Padma.

Penelope had turned up first, followed by Angelina and Alicia, who arrived together. Molly ignored their less-than-pleased expressions; once they got used to the law, they'd be thrilled to be marrying her little boys. Padma had appeared, followed by a furious-looking Hermione, who was being escorted by an airy looking Luna.

The floo whooshed, and her oldest son stepped out, one arm wrapped around his short wife's waist. Molly beamed at the tiny bundle in Katie's arms, hurrying over to them.

"Sorry we're late, Mum," Bill said as she arrived in front of them. "Henry wasn't happy about having to stop playing." Molly waved off his apologizes, already reaching out to the grumpy little boy. He was chubby, like all babies were, and his frown and pout were almost identical to the ones Bill used to wear. Katie let Molly scoop up Henry, who saw his Grandmum and smiled slightly. He was soon giggling as Molly cooed over him and took him over to see Granddad. The elder Weasleys absolutely adored their only grandchild, and Molly was very pleased that Katie let them see him on an almost daily basis. She was sure her other daughter-in-laws would do the same in a year or two's time. At that moment, Molly saw a warm, happy future full of love, happiness, and children for her family.

She had desperately underestimated the free will of the young adults in the room.