A big thank you to Ruth, harryjcmespotters, for inspiring this story! Also, I am very thankful for Tessa, techtonictigress, for being a lovely support, and an amazing beta! Please let me know what you think! Happy Reading!

-Hannah

"The process of pairing each couple has been well thought out, and the result of great personal study. The Ministry assures all of you, with our utmost confidence, that each union will be a happy and plentiful marriage." Percy Weasley twittered, looking simultaneously repulsed and utterly smug.

Hermione knew that this plan had come directly from Percy himself, leading to his permanent dismissal from the Weasley family. She knew that it had been serious when Molly had actually removed his rat-like face from her clock, effectively erasing his existence from the Burrow.

"Right then, your highness, how about you stop wasting our damn time trying to sell us something we're completely disinterested in?" Draco Malfoy drawled from the back of the room, with the sort of nonchalance only he could muster at a time like this.

"I'm sorry you feel that way," Percy smiled, as if there was literally anyone in the large chamber that did not feel the exact same way as Malfoy, "but we cannot risk a dramatic dip in population as the result of so many losses in your age range during the War. It has only been five years and we've already begun to see a sizeable dip in the birthrate. The effects, should this trend continue, would be nothing short of catastrophic to our economy. Think of your mothers and fathers, what would happen to them if we could not support them?"

"Me Mum 'n Da' are both dead, didya forget that?" Seamus Finnegan called from a few rows behind Hermione, "Voldemort wasn't picky about who he murdered ya' know?"

Percy turned a particularly unflattering shade of puce before knocking his puny gavel on the podium sharply. "Here now! You all will be married to an individual who has been pre-chosen by the Ministry or you will be removed!"

"From where, Weasley? From the room? Because if that's all, I'll gladly leave on my own accord."

"Absolutely not, Mr. Malfoy. Individuals not complying with the Ministry's request will be removed from the Wizarding World. You will have your memories wiped and your ability to use magic will be taken along with it."

There was an audible gasp from nearly everyone in the room, except from Harry, Hermione, and Ron who had already accepted their fates. When they had first learned about the Ministry's plans, Hermione had done what she did best. She went to the law library at the Ministry and searched through every tome available in a vain attempt to find some way to stop this. Even pleas to Kingsley himself had failed them; the Wizengamot had already approved the plan and so it would be.

"Oi, Hermione, you work for the Minister. There's gotta be somethin' you can do for us!" Seamus begged, filling Hermione with dread.

Knowing that the news would be at least incrementally better received from her than it would be from Percy, she stood and made her way to Percy's podium where the red headed man quickly stepped aside.

"I'm sorry, everyone," she croaked, her throat dry and tight. "I've looked everywhere, I've tried everything. The Wizengamot has voted in overwhelming approval of Mr. Weasley's ingenious plan and there isn't a single thing that anyone, not even Minister Shacklebolt, can do to reverse their decision. In the end, it seems that we've all been completely fucked by them," she finished, pointing towards Percy.

"Now now, Ms. Granger, I appreciate your explanation. But once again, let me assure all of you that this plan has been carefully crafted. We've consulted with experts in a variety of fields so that we are entirely sure that we have considered every possible hiccup."

"I guess none of 'em told you this might be a bloody "hiccup" then, you right bastard?"

Percy opened his mouth and snapped it shut again, obviously unprepared for the conflict he was facing. As Hermione stood there, looking out at the stunned faces of her classmates, she was tired, more so than she had been in years.

"Sit down, Percy. I'll handle it from here," she commanded before addressing her peers once more. "Look, I know this is terrible. It fucking sucks, I get it, but we don't have any other option. If you really don't want to marry your 'chosen partner,'" she advised, noticing Harry wince at her word choice, "you can leave the Wizarding World, but until then we're just going to have to go along with it."

This approach seemed to quiet some of the protests, she noted with a heavy heart. How in the hell has everything come to this? she thought to herself.

"Well then, Granger, how are we supposed to find out who we're marrying, then?" Malfoy asked, raising a sleek blonde eyebrow.

"That's quite simple!" Percy exclaimed, making to stand again.

"Percy. Ignatius. Weasley. I am the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, Order of Merlin: First Class, and therefore outrank you in every conceivable manner. Sit down and be quiet before your blundering makes everything worse again."

"That may be, Ms Granger-"

"SIT!" she barked, barely holding back her desire to hex the man.

"The Special Counsel for the Management of the Wizarding Populace, in all of its infinite wisdom, has decided that it would be terribly romantic to reveal everyone's partner through the use of a tattoo." Hermione explained, unable to stop herself from rolling her eyes at the Ministry's obnoxious showmanship. "Each partner's tattoo will have one half of a quote, one that represents their character. This fun exercise will help each couple find common ground from the very beginning of everyone's joyous union. Now, unfortunately, Mr. Weasley will be the one to perform the charm and then, who the hell knows what comes next." Hermione finished, leaving the podium and slumping back into her seat.

Percy awkwardly rose and clapped his hands together, cutting the stunned silence sharply. "Well, since we're all ready then, Revelare," he mumbled, waving his wand in a long arc.

Hermione's arm burned where she was sure some clinical looking script was appearing that would lead her to her "soulmate". She couldn't bring herself to watch as she still hoped that this was all an elaborate prank.

"We all keep our fingers crossed...Blimey, it's the Cannon's motto isn't it? We all keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best!" Ron whispered next to her.

With this, Hermione felt a small wave of relief. At least the Wizengamot had spared her from a lifetime with Ron.

"What's yours say, Harry?" she heard Ron ask.

"With a love that the winged seraphs of Heaven."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It's from Annabel Lee, Ronald. It's a poem by Poe, he's a muggle author from America." Hermione answered, not turning to face either of her friends.

"Cheers, then. Wait, 'Mione, you haven't told us what yours says. Maybe if we're lucky you got one of us!"

Hermione frowned at Ron's optimism. She doubted, thankfully, that she had been paired with either of them. It wasn't that she didn't love both of them, it was just that she loved them like she would a brother, and she was entirely convinced neither would make her happy.

"I don't know what mine says, and I don't really want to know."

"Here, Hermione, let me read it. That way you can know without having to look at it," Harry murmured, taking one of her hands in his with a gentle squeeze.

She held out her left arm, which Harry took in his hands and slowly pushed the sleeve of her jumper out of the way. She felt faint with nerves as her blood pounded painfully in her veins.

"'My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep'... Do you recognize that, Hermione?" Harry asked, pulling her to his chest.

"Yes." She sighed into his shirt. "'The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.' It's from fucking Romeo and Juliet. How happy. Now that we've solved that mystery, I'm going to the loo," she declared, feeling her eyes beginning to burn with angry tears.

Without waiting for either of them to try to comfort her, Hermione briskly walked towards the doors to the chamber. She kept her eyes fixed on the doors, not wanting anyone to ask her what her tattoo says and dreading the thought of finding the second half.

As soon as she had managed to push her way back into the lobby outside of the chamber, she felt better. The air here was cool and quiet, and for the first time in hours, Hermione felt like she could think straight. She made her way to a bench in the corner of the room, wishing that she could melt into the floor. She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't notice someone had followed her until they sat down next to her.

"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep, the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite, huh, Granger?" Draco Malfoy asked, fixing his silver eyes on her.

"Go to hell, Malfoy. Now is not the time to be an utter fuck."

"Not as infinite as Will imagined, I see." He chuckled, holding out his left arm where, above his Dark Mark the the second half of the quote was written in fine script.