Hubby and Wifey
(Harry Potter Fan Fiction)
Preview: Kallen was forcefully paired to George for marriage by Wizarding law. Kallen didn't care much and treated the situation as another wrench to her already-plotted life. What if George has a girlfriend who is paired to Kallen's half-brother, Draco? GW/OC
CHAPTER ONE
THE LETTERS
Renée Pierre (RP) House of Fashion
Montparnasse, Paris, France
People bustled all around Kallen (kehy-len), handling papers and fabrics all at the same time. Some people held pencils on their hands while they argued with their neighbor in the nearby cubicles, while some strode back and forth inside Kallen's office.
Meanwhile, said woman was bent over her office desk languidly as she shaded a particular part on the design she was working on. In actuality, she was far too distracted by the boisterous nature of the fashion house's workers than to actually produce something worth making in real life. Instead, she made a crude sketch of the scenery she could view in her newly-furnished office: the office of her ex-boss.
Calypso Pierre-Cooper, granddaughter of the founder of the Renée Pierre House of Fashion, had turned over a new leaf and left the world of fashion to spend more time with her husband and two children. The fate of the world-renown fashion house then fell to Kallen, Calypso's youngest yet most talented designer. Kallen's inheriting of the company raised numerous eyebrows in the fashion industry, but Calypso remained adamant at her decision.
When young Kallen started to work in the RP House, she was but a mere seventeen-year-old. She had encountered a few of probably the worst insults she could have received when she boldly stepped inside the RP House building, portfolio in hand, and a cool and confident aura surrounding her.
Words that should have had stung normal applicants entered her ear and came out at the other. Kallen paid no heed at the insults. When Calypso first saw her, the French lady hardly believed that the teenager could pass the standards that she had set over the years in accepting workers in her company. But one look at the determination burning in Kallen's eyes, and another to the blonde's masterpieces, had Calypso welcoming Kallen with open arms.
Even without a degree in fashion, Kallen exhibited nothing but raw talent. She was, to put it simply, a genius. Kallen pursued a formal college degree in Paris while at the same time, she worked as an intern in the RP House.
Kallen's pure talent alone could have earned her one of the highest ranks in the RP House, but Calypso wanted that pure talent to be developed even more; thus, she waited until the blonde had a diploma to display to promote her from being an intern and part-time worker into a full-pledged fashion designer.
And when the elder woman thought it was time, she stepped down her throne and handed over the crown to Kallen. Despite the event being quite taboo, a newcomer inheriting one whole fashion house by herself, Kallen had built quite a reputation already. Grumbles died down after a while, for they knew that the young woman deserved the position.
When she was still a young intern, Kallen had already launched a few fashion shows featuring her works. When she became a regular designer in the RP House, she was able to create her very first personal clothing line: Le Gasp!. Kallen's works became sensational, not only in Paris or France, but in the whole world. Le Gasp! soon sprouted outlets located not only in Paris, but also in the other fashion hotspots of the world.
One could conclude that the young blonde had everything in the world, that she was happy. Heck, she could have any eligible bachelor she wants. She was beautiful, clever, talented, famous and most of all, filthy rich.
But Kallen believed that her career had just begun, and love and marriage were buried at the back of her mind. However, a supposedly innocent letter, delivered not-so discreetly by (surprisingly) an owl, changed everything that she had planned out for herself.
Ms. Kallen Anjela van Alstreim
Unité Numéro 0304, Les Tour de Prestigieux
Montparnasse, Paris, France
Dear Ms. van Alstreim,
The recent war that involved the Wizarding world has caused us all great losses and valuable friends. Nevertheless, as the Ministry of Magic, we have are doing our very best to restore the Wizarding communities back to their former glory. In connection with this, recently, the Ministry has conducted a national census count of the remaining witches and wizards in the United Kingdom. After almost three years of observation, we have found out that after the horrid war, the Wizarding population had greatly dropped to a very alarming number.
Because of this, we took the matter upon our hands and had come up with a solution. This solution aims to successfully repopulate the British Wizarding communities, at least by 10%. The Wizengamot has passed a law that states that all unmarried and unengaged any man or woman, between the ages of eighteen to thirty-five, must be paired off with the opposite gender of their age. Every pair is required to be wed within three months, consummate, and have at least one child after fifteen months of marriage.
This law will last for approximately three to five years, to ensure that there would be an evident increase of population count. After five years, the Ministry will re-conduct a national census to determine if the solution has been a success.
Correspondingly, you, Kallen Anjela van Alstreim, age twenty-three, are a qualified candidate to this law. You also are a registered British citizen, thus the law applies to you, despite your current residences or your blood-based nationality. Rest assured, your betrothed would be someone you know or you are familiar with; a close friend, an acquaintance, or even someone who went to school with you. The Ministry had been very careful in making matching pairs, to avoid complicated marriages.
The Ministry had chosen three candidates who all might suit your prospect; or at least, someone whom you know. First is Oliver Wood, age twenty-five, an old schoolmate of yours. Second is Adrian Pucey, age twenty-three, another old schoolmate. Lastly is George Weasley, age twenty-three, yet another schoolmate. These three candidates had been carefully handpicked by the Ministry officials to suit your personality and likes, as well as your hobbies. Your common ground with these gentlemen is being ex-schoolmates, as well as the fact that you used to play Quidditch with them.
After a series of tests and assessments, we deduced that Mr. George Fabian Weasley is the best match for you.
Upon receiving this letter, you and Mr. Weasley approximately have a week to meet each other and discuss about your current status. You may attend dates together, spend more time with each other and even move in early together, just as long as your marriage will ensue within three months after receiving this notice. Downright refusal to accept what the Ministry has dictated would result in temporary confiscation of your wand, until you and your partner decide to proceed with the wedding; or, if you fail to wed after three months, your wand will be confiscated. There would be a trial, to determine whether your wand will be snapped into two or not.
The Ministry wishes you a very happy and fulfilling marriage.
Sincerely yours,
Priscilla Ellwood
Head, Wizarding Population Census Committee
Ministry of Magic
Noted:
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Minister of Magic
Kallen stared at the crisp roll of parchment on her hands, which was once inside a very elegant envelope with the wax seal that she had been too familiar with: the seal of the Ministry of Magic in Britain. A wince escaped the unbreakable mask of indifference on her face.
She ran a hand through her dirty blonde hair and she adjusted her glasses that slid down to the tip of her straight nose. Her rosy lips were pursed into a thin line, expressing the turmoil that was going on inside her head. Her deep gold eyes were fixated on the single piece of parchment which she had been reading again and again for about five times already. No matter how many times she scanned the letter, the content remained the same.
Kallen felt a huge headache coming.
She tried very hard to be not involved with magic as much as she could. She hid her wand safely inside her posh flat in Paris, never once daring to bring it out, even just to polish it. She cut most of the ties she had with wizards and the Wizarding communities, with the exception of her mother and maternal half-brothers, and her father. Kallen hardly even thought about magic and wizards anymore. Her avoidance to magic came to the extent of rarely visiting her family.
It's been years since she last went to England, to her mother. Her father lived in Germany, while Kallen stayed in Paris. Despite the fact that her parents are divorced and had their own families aside from her, Kallen did not mind at all. She liked living in solitude and peace, with only one house-elf with her instead of numerous ones in the mansions where her parents lived.
Her father, André van Alstreim, had married a German woman named Ana Maria Wilhelm, and had two daughters with her: Kallen's half-sisters, Corinne and Adrienne. Ana was a Muggle-born woman, thus making Corinne and Adrienne half-bloods. Because his wife was a Muggle, André decided to settle down in the Muggle world and became a business tycoon. Ana was aware of her husband's origin and magical roots, and to that, André was thankful. Besides, Corinne and Adrienne got their Hogwarts letters too. Generally, Kallen got along with her half-sisters and even Ana, but she refused to live with them at all.
Narcissa, her mother, got married to a man named Lucius Malfoy. Lucius turned out to be a very rich Englishman, who was supposedly Narcissa's sister's destined husband. But Kallen's aunt, Bellatrix, got married to the Pureblood Lestrange, so Lucius got Narcissa.
Despite some saying that children tend to cling to their mothers, Kallen refused to live with Narcissa, especially since Lucius disliked her and so did she. But she got along very well with her half-brothers, Draco and Nero who were twins. Despite the fact that all Kallen and Draco did was to insult each other and compare their fathers (Nero was far too quiet to join them), it was their way of bonding and having a laugh.
When she was of age to enter Hogwarts (sorted to Slytherin), Kallen stayed permanently in England for the most part of the year. She would return to Germany to spend Easter holidays and summer vacation with her father, stepmother and stepsisters. Her Christmases were spent in the Malfoy manor, with her half-brothers and mother.
On the summer after she graduated from Hogwarts, she left England and went to Paris on her own. She did not come back permanently, contented with a few meetings with her mother and sometimes, her half-brothers. She rarely flew to Germany too, since she became busy with her blossoming career in Paris.
The shock from the news she had just received finally subsided, as Kallen was finally able to take in the other essential information about her current predicament.
"George Weasley…" she murmured.
Kallen tried to rack through her brain, trying to remember if she had known someone named George Weasley. Oliver Wood and Adrian Pucey hardly rang a bell either, but Kallen was positive that the three of them were her schoolmates. Quidditch was long buried in the back of her mind too, but she tried very hard to dig out those memories.
Something in her memory snapped and she was finally able to remember the three blokes she was supposed to know.
Oliver Wood was that Gryffindor who was too enthusiastic with Quidditch.
Adrian Pucey was an ugly Slytherin who wanted to pursue her before, only to be warned by her brother Draco.
And George Weasley, well… It was silly of her to not remember the redheaded male at once. George and Fred Weasley, the so-called infamous Weasley twins, were the best pranksters to ever set foot in Hogwarts in their time. They caused mayhem in the castle all the time, putting on some liveliness in the dark candlelit corridors of Hogwarts.
Not wanting to get married at her current age, plus to a man she barely knows, Kallen decided that it was time to dig up some family ties, albeit reluctantly.
The Burrow
Ottery St. Catchpole
Devon, England
At the Burrow, the Ministry's letters caused quite an uproar too.
"Blimey! What on earth is Kingsley up to?" Ron wondered out loud. He clutched at his letter tight, as if it was the bane of his current existence. And maybe it was.
Everyone was present in the Weasley household, even Harry who was dazed while Ginny embraced him happily, Fleur and Bill with their young daughter Victoire, and even Hermione, who looked pale and nauseated. Mrs. Weasley looked at her children (biological and not), worried by the series of reactions that they had on their faces.
Bill, her eldest son, was already married to Fleur. At least one of her children was safe from the unfortunate law that sprouted out of nowhere.
Charlie looked calm, if not satisfied, with the person he was supposed to be wed to. It seemed that he was fairly familiar with his soon-to-be wife.
Ron looked somewhat paper white, while also turning to an angry shade of green. It was like he was facing an acromantula alone, and at the same time, he was about to be force-fed with a barrel of Polyjuice potion. The group's mother hen winced as she saw her son's expression; it was evident that Ron was rouged with different emotions at the same time.
Ginny, as mentioned earlier, was in the arms of her long-time beau, Harry, whilst crying with happiness. Without words being spoken, Mrs. Weasley understood that in the end, Ginny and Harry really deserved each other to be married.
Mrs. Weasley passed up her eyes to Hermione's figure. The brunette looked quite shaken. Like her best friend Ron, she also looked ready to barf anytime. Before, the plump mother believed and hoped that in the end, it would be the brainy Hermione and her precious Ronniekins. But it turned out, Hermione was too smart for Ron (to which Mrs. Weasly secretly agreed to) because she deserved someone as smart as she is. Specifically, George.
Mrs. Weasley turned to her one-eared son and her first reflex was to hold his arm in a comforting manner. Chances looked grim for him, as George had a furious look on his face. Molly turned back to Hermione and asked, "How is it, dear?" with all the tactfulness that she could muster.
Seemingly like the first time she heard someone speak to her, Hermione turned to Molly weakly, her face very pale, lips quivering. "I-I, I got Malfoy…" the clever witch said feebly.
Eyes turned to either Hermione or George.
"Merlin's knickers! Oh Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed as she rushed to her unfortunate best friend.
"Bloody hell! Kingsley is out of his mind!" Ron claimed, his voice catching some hope that maybe the minister had some wrong pairings upon the impossible one that Hermione had.
Harry remained calm. "Can I see your letter, 'Mione? Maybe you got the wrong letter," he suggested.
But none of their cries of surprise beat Hermione's boyfriend.
"You'rewith Malfoy!" George yelled furiously. Upon hearing that he was not his girlfriend's supposedly betrothed, the one-earned man finally let the news sink into him, the anger and despair to explode from the confines of his head.
He wasn't engaged to Hermione. Hermione's not engaged to him. She's off to marry Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. One person who made sure to make Hermione's life a living hell when they were still students at Hogwarts. The Pureblood, who detested Muggle-borns with a passion. Hermione was paired off to Draco Malfoy, while he, George, was paired with someone he didn't even know…
…
After a series of tests and assessments, we deduced that Ms. Kallen Anjela van Alstreim is the best match for you.
…
The Ministry wishes you a very happy and fulfilling marriage.
…
Hermione trembled at the sight of her upset beau. She tried to level down her disappointment and grief by trying to smile. Only, it made George angrier than he already was. "Well, it mustn't be as bad as mine, is it?" she said, poorly attempting to lighten up the mood. Only, it didn't do the trick as George seemed angrier by his girlfriend's attempt.
"Not as bad! Well, if you're off to get married to the one person who made your life a living hell for how-many-years, I on the other hand, have no idea who this Kallen van Alstreim is," George hissed to Hermione. The brunette flinched at George's harsh tone and drew back, but then she recognized the name when the information sunk in.
Hermione, deciding that it was the perfect time to be rational, said, "Calm down, George. She's not just somebody—she used to go to Hogwarts with us, specifically in your year." She ran a hand through her brown locks, feeling too stressed to actually become mad at her boyfriend's jerk-ness. The name van Alstreim ringed a bell, most definitely. George's supposedly fiancé was once a prefect like Hermione, and the two briefly exchanged words about prefect meetings.
Oddly enough, she also remembered the peculiarity of the older girl. The Kallen van Alstreim she knew might be the only Slytherin who never recoiled at her, since she's a "Mudblood" and all. Albeit, the Slytherin did sneer at times; only when specifically addressed, though.
"Oh, that's a lot better," George said sarcastically. He was truly frustrated and ready to murder someone. He could bet with his remaining ear—and that's something to hold on to—that even being schoolmates, he has simply never known this...this... George heaved a frustrated sigh, sounding more like an annoyed parent than a young man with marriage dilemmas.
George's temper was already kicking at Hermione's nerves, and his sarcasm was the final straw for her.
Hermione glared at him and said, "If you're just going to be an arse, then I'd rather leave and tell my parents the great news."
With that, the brunette Apparated out of the Burrow with tears in her eyes, leaving behind the Weasleys dumbfounded. Mrs. Weasley easily recovered with a glare.
"Young man, that was uncalled for! You go march after her if that's what it'll take to apologize! George, don't ever think that you're the only one here who feels so unmatched!" Mrs. Weasley yelled. His day completely ruined, George brushed his mother aside and stepped towards the fireplace.
As he was grabbing a handful of Floo powder, he heard Harry say, "George, I'm sure it's not that bad. Maybe you and your fiancé could work things out if you just contact her..."
George threw the green powder to the fire, yelling his shop's name. Before he vanished, George looked back to Harry and said, "You're just saying that 'coz you got Ginny. Congratulations anyway, Harry."
