I do not own Harry Potter.
Bear with me while I set the plot please.
This is my first Harry Potter fanfic =].
My curls flutter behind me, entangling themselves into a rats' nest that I will never be able to undo later. But that is not what is on my mind at the moment. Adrenaline is pumping through to the places that need it. My legs are screaming, flying. Twigs and leaves and all sorts of things I don't want to think about are attacking me from everywhere. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a mass crashes into me, barreling me onto the forest floor.
Laughter escapes me uncontrollably. My sides quickly begin to ache, my breath hitching. But oh how good it feels anyway. Laughter has been hard to come by lately.
"Get off," I manage.
The weight rolls off me, masculine laughter joining my own.
"Got you Mione," he says between breaths.
"Yeah, yeah," I grumble happily.
He puts his glasses on, glancing towards me. His laughter turns maniacal.
"Oh Merlin. Hermione you should see yourself."
"Yeah, Harry, I can only imagine; going by what you look like."
"Heyyyy," he retorts, getting up.
He puts out a hand and helps me up as well. Ever the gentleman.
"Come on, let's get back," he says.
I can almost hear the gloomy music as we make our way back, my walk the walk of shame. I was the first to be caught. Sad; especially since it was mine and Harry's idea to introduce the Weasleys to the Muggle game of Manhunt.
At first I thought it might not be that great of an idea, that maybe it would drudge up memories of being in hiding. But it was also a way of unwinding, getting all of the bad feelings out through physical exercise and laughs. It would also give the Weasleys an insight into the Muggle World. Being at the Burrow helped a lot, I think, because of the familiarity and warmth.
Looking at Harry's triumphant face, I'm glad we decided to play. His smile actually reaches his eyes, the eyes that so famously look like Lily's. Everything about Harry is famous, from his eyes, to his crazy hair, to his scar. I feel terrible for him. No one will really see him for who he is, the man that he is. We've all had to grow up due to the war, and besides the permanent mark that it's left on him, it's made Harry into one Hell of a man. Those illustrious emerald eyes hold depth. Hurt, sorrow, sincerity, compassion, and love shine through them. His face is angled, no longer rounded from when we first met at school. Even then, he wasn't round though. Quite scraggly because of the treatment of his relatives actually. But now he's hardened, his body thriving with hard muscle. His famous crazy hair brings an ounce of innocence and cuteness to him. When I look at him, he's not that famous boy-who-lived. He's just Harry, the man I would die for, the man that I loved. Like a brother, or so I thought. Sometimes, there's a little flash of something else. But I think maybe there always would be, if only because we've been through so much together. There's an understanding between us, a bond that can never be matched by anything. Some would see it as a spark, I simply understand it as unconditional, undefined love.
We reach the area the boys play Quidditch in.
"Oi! Everyone! I've found Hermione!" Harry calls.
I smile and hide my face. I'm glad about all the fun, but at the same time, I feel…annoyed. From everything I've been through, it shouldn't have been so easy to catch me. Even though the War's over, I can't afford to get lax. Everyone starts piling in from all different directions.
"Hah! Who would've thought" George starts, putting his arm around me.
" – It'd be Hermione'd be caught first?" Fred finishes.
Oh Godric. The twins. A large smile spreads across my face and I can't hide it. We'd all been so close to losing them. George, thank Merlin, only lost an ear. It could've been worse. We're lucky Snape got to him instead. Fred, though. It was a really close call. But we got to him in time, and he's alright now. That's all that matters. I can't imagine how it would've been. They carry a light within themselves, which I can't really explain to myself. Looking at their matching grins, my smile gets even wider. Their light, their humor, their goodness is just too much. I used to think they just misbehaved all of the time for no good reason, but they're actually really smart, and are pretty dashing in looks to tell the truth.
"Who knows, lads, maybe she let him catch her?" Charlie smirks and winks in my direction.
A large blush crosses my cheeks. I've gotten to know Charlie a lot better since the War. We've all kind of been recuperating at the Burrow, trying to mend the emotional scars enough so that we can face the world. After all, it's only been two months. But Charlie's been a real help to me. Sometimes, it's just easier to talk to someone who doesn't know everything about you. In comes Charlie, trying to spend time with his family after this huge lurch in the Wizarding World. He's smart, sweet, gorgeous, and fascinating.
Oh Godric help me, I just realized I've been looking at all the men here as more than friends. I have to stop being such a mind slut. But can anyone blame me? After all of the things I've seen and been through? And with such good candidates in front of me? I think I can splurge a little. Where has prudish Hermione gone? Maybe with all of her innocence.
My internal debate is interrupted by Ron.
"Oi! Don't talk about Mione like that!"
Ron, Ron, Ron. There's a bloke that I know where I stand. We'd gotten together for a little while, but realized it had been one of those childhood things. You know each other forever, feelings arise, you give it a shot, but realize you're better off as friends. We never got along anyway. I love Ron. He's my best friend. No one can ever replace him in my life. I'd die for him too. But he's not someone I'm going to love romantically.
"Ron, leave it be," Percy sighs.
I'm glad Percy realized his mistakes. I mean, I understand that he did what he did because he thought it was the right thing to do, and that he was actually protecting his family. But he was very, very wrong. And even though the Weasleys acted like they weren't really sad about him, I know there was a gaping hole in their hearts. He's even gotten himself a girlfriend. He got together with Lavender, believe it or not, after the Final Battle.
"Yeah, Ron, listen to your older brother," Bill laughs.
Bill's another one to be thankful for. Greyback could have killed him or changed him. He has a scar of his own now, and likes his meat a little on the rare side, but he's alive and well. His wife Fleur is actually three months pregnant.
"Oh hush, Bill," Ginny retorts.
Ginny's doing good as well. Her and Harry broke up a few weeks after the Final Battle. Ginny realized Harry was just a childhood fantasy she had concocted in her head and wasn't anything like what she imagined, and Harry realized that Ginny, though beautiful and strong, wasn't for him. Ginny actually got together with Neville Longbottom after the Final Battle. They had saved each other's lives and had gotten caught up in the moment. They kept in touch only to find out they had a lot in common, though they were both so different. They're actually really cute together, as unlikely a pair as they seem. Neville's really gained some confidence, especially after killing Nagini.
Everyone's smiling. It's so good to see. We're all happy at the moment. I know that as soon as the effect of the game wears off, we'll all be in our little bubbles of gloom, but it's good to feel this now, together. I also know that though the War will always have its stain on us, we'll overcome the sorrow and be happy again like we are now.
Mr. Weasley comes walking in to our little group from the house. A look at his face and I know it's not good. It had to happen eventually, the point to break our bubble.
"Hello Mr. Weasley. Hard day at work?" I ask.
He looks up at me, and I see the sadness in his eyes.
"You can say that. Look, I want you all to know that I tried my best to stop this. I've worked with them to get it as fair as possible, but I couldn't get rid of it completely. A lot of people have actually put in the effort, but the Minister is very adamant about this. I can't express how sorry I am."
He looks at each of us in turn. Everyone's eyes search his. What now? What more?
"What is it Dad?" Ron asks.
"The Ministry…has decided that the toll from the War has been too great. It wants to start anew, bring in some fresh blood and happiness. It wants to forge ties."
"What do you mean Dad?" Charlie asks when it seems as though he's finished.
Percy suddenly looks horrorstricken, "No! They can't have! Dad, tell me it's not true."
Mr. Weasley looks at his third oldest and simply nods gravely.
With pain pronouncing each word, he tells us, "The Ministry has passed a Marriage Law. It will be announced tomorrow morning."
K guys. Hope you liked that so far. Bear with me. I know that absolutely nothing happened yet and it's just Hermione drooling over boys and saying stuff you pretty much already know, but I'm just setting the scene. Again, please bear with me and give this a shot. There will be adventure haha. Please review. Constructive criticism or just a "good job", I would love.
PS - I promise to make the next chapter longer.