Not a single sound could be heard in the Great Hall. Many would find this unusual, as there is ALWAYS some noise in the Great Hall. It was a part of Hogwarts after all. But not now. Right now there was only silence. Many were beginning to believe that 'Silencio' had been placed over them. Until the chaos started a millisecond later.

"They can't do this!" was one cry.

"It's unjust!" was another. Many couples were crying, knowing it would most likely be the end for them. Neville looked like he could pass out. Seconds later, he did. Hermione was one of the few students who were still just sat there shocked. She looked up to see sad emerald eyes - Harry's eyes - looking back at her. He gave her a small, sad smile, before they both turned to Ron who was red and shaking with anger. Unlike so many people believed, after the war was over, Hermione and Ron didn't get together. They had decided they worked better as friends, and everything had returned to how it usually would have been for the past seven years, with the two of them nearly constantly bickering good-naturedly. Well, until this happened. Startling nearly everyone in the hall, the magnified voice of Minerva McGonagall fell over them all, screaming the word,

"SILENCE!"

Almost immediately, everybody shut up and sat down. Professor McGonagall stood behind the podium and looked out at her students, from the seventh years, to the eighth years. Yes, that's right, eighth years. Everyone who's learning time at Hogwarts had been affected by Voldemort or his followers had been allowed to come back and learn what they had missed, including Fred and George Weasley. They may have been the oldest students in the school, but they didn't mind. They liked all the extra attention they got. Of course, their being back in school did mean that Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes would be closed for the most of the year, but they were still taking orders via owl. Minerva sighed heavily before beginning again,

"As I said earlier, I have no say in this marriage law. I know how badly this must affect you, but please, try and get to know your obligated spouse so you don't end up trapped in a miserable marriage. Now in a minute a list shall appear in front of me, and I will begin to read out who will be paired up with who. Please try not to make to much of a fuss. I am deeply sorry this has happened to you." For the second time that day there was only silence in the Great Hall. A lot of shaky deep breaths could be heard from people all around the rooms, hoping they got paired with their other half, and if not them then someone decent. Then with a loud CRACK! a house elf appeared, handed Professor McGonagall a long piece of parchment, before disappearing with another loud CRACK! McGonagall decided it would be best just to put the poor children out of their misery and begin, so with a deep breath, she started calling out the names,

"Susan Bones and Seamus Finnegan, Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, Fred Weasley and Millicent Bulstrode -" Shocked gasps were heard as those two names were called out.

"George Weasley and Hannah Abbott, Ron Weasley and Lavender Brown, Hermione Granger and... Draco Malfoy...?" McGonagall trailed off as a piercing sob went through the room, echoing off of the huge brick walls. Hermione couldn't help it; he was her childhood tormentor, and her Malfoy Manor torturer to an extent.

"NO!" screamed Harry and Ron in sync, though they knew it would do no good. Nearly every face was on Hermione, as she sobbed into her hands. Nearly every face, because Fred Weasley had stood up and was slowly walking up to the teachers table. As Hermione's sobs subsided to mere whimpers, all eyes were now on Fred, Hermione's too. He stood in front of McGonagall now, towering above her, as he said the words no-one would ever have expected. The words that later would become immortal inside the walls of Hogwarts.

In a calm, quiet, yet subtly forceful voice, he spoke the words,

"Change the pairings. Put Hermione with me."


Hello! After reading a lot of Marriage Law stories, I decided to write my own. I can't promise this will get finished, or that it will get finished quickly, but I am willing to try. I'm sorry it's quite short, but for me this is a long chapter! I will try and make the other chapters longer, if not the same length as this definitely. I can promise, though, that if I don't get at least 2 reviews for each chapter, I will definitely not write any more to do with it. As for my other story The World Wide Gaming Web Of Love, it is very unlikely I will ever continue to write it. However, I will leave it up for people to read. Thanks for reading,

XxX Amethyst Straw-age XxX