Chapter 1: Coming to terms
Hermione:
Well, she certainly wasn't expecting this when she came over for lunch at the Burrow on Sunday.
"They can't blood well do this can they," she practically screeched. Mrs. Weasley gave her a sympathetic look before handing her a cup of peppermint tea. "I'm afraid they can and they are Hermione," she sighed pouring more tea into another cup. She had nearly fainted when she had woken up to prepare breakfast and had been presented with such a shocking headline that early in the morning.
"Be a dear and go hand this to Ginny will you Hermione?" Molly asked while placing the second cup of tea in her hand. Hermione, still riding an emotional high, could do nothing but nod and start up the stairs. She couldn't believe it! The nerve of the Ministry to think they could just come in and decide people's lives without giving them a proper choice. Preposterous! Still fuming, Hermione reached Ginny's door and was just about to fling it open in outrage when she heard sniffling.
Her hand froze on the door as she heard voices in the room. Putting her ear up to the door she heard the tail end of Ginny's words "-I don't want to lose you Harry. I-" another sniffle. "I love you and only you. I'll never be happy with anyone else," she sobbed. "I know Gin" Hermione heard Harry say "I love you too and I don't want any girl but you." Feeling like a stalker for eavesdropping, Hermione rapped her knuckles on the door and opened it after a soft "come in." Her heart broke as she saw Ginny with her face buried in Harry's chest who was propped up on her headboard. "Hey Hermione," said Harry who gave her as much of a smile as he could. Hermione mustered a smile and nodded to him and walked over before tapping Ginny's shoulder and handing her the cup of tea once she got herself in a sitting position.
"Thanks Hermione"
"No problem Ginny" Hermione replied as she crossed over to the other bed in the room and sat down on it. Ginny wiped her eyes and took steady sips of the cool, warm liquid. A bit of an awkward silence formed in the room when no one had anything to contribute to a good conversation. "So you've heard the good news," spoke Harry sarcastically breaking the silence "looks like we're all getting married soon." Ginny let out another little sob before dropping the tea cup and running out the door to the bathroom.
Harry sighed, running his hand through his hair.
"Shit."
Hermione gave a genuine half smile at her friend's tactlessness. "My thoughts exactly" she concurred. Harry shook his head "didn't mean to upset her but I'm still trying to digest it, it's –" he shook his head again "its bloody mad Mione, how the hell do they expect us to just go along with their grand plans like little sheep." Hermione used a Scourgify and a Reparo on the tea and tea cup before answering "I don't know either Harry" she replied as she set the fully whole teacup on a bedside table "I don't know what they or Shacklebolt are thinking pulling something like this."
"Me neither, I mean I know the population is dwindling but does he seriously think betrothing people by force and making them have babies is the best idea?' Harry asked taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes. "There not taking any suggestions for brides so they must be using some sort of charm for pairings," she said. Harry nodded "they must be, hey ya reckon that you'll be paired with- "
"Mione?" came a voice from the doorway. She spun around. She knew that voice. "Hey- hey Ron" she said with a forced upbeat expression. "Bloody hell" the redhead said with a wide grin "thought it was you come here" he said motioning for a hug. Though she was reluctant about it she got up and tentatively entered his arms reasoning that Ron wouldn't try anything with Harry in the room. "Missed you" he whispered into her ear making her shiver. "I missed you too" she replied more out of politeness than honesty.
She and Ron were….
She actually wasn't sure anymore. They had their fairytale kiss at the Battle of Hogwarts and it was perfection in such a dark moment. After the war they had agreed to give their relationship a shot and had publicly started dating before it all went downhill. Hermione wanted a slow relationship where they would focus on building up the emotional side of their relationship while Ron wanted everything now and complained when Hermione wasn't indulging his "needs" as he put it when he wanted. They had their first break up after a couple months when, during a fight, Ron mentioned how Lavender had let him do anything he wanted when they were dating prompting Hermione into tears. A week later they were back together after numerous apologies by Ron and his first romantic gesture when he appeared at her door and sang a verse from Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden. After a couple more months Hermione called it quits on their relationship after realizing they were just not compatible and Ron was pushing too much for her to give him her virginity. She also realized she didn't like kissing and touching Ron because it was uncomfortable for her leading her to realize her crush on Ron was more of a big brother sort of thing and that they weren't right for each other because they were too different. Ron needed someone who would lavish attention and do what he wanted, a "trophy wife" of sorts while Hermione needed someone who could keep up with her intellectually and be more emotionally in tune.
Ron didn't see it that way. He believed that she, as he so eloquently put it, "was just doing her hard to get girl thing" saying she would return to him one way or another. He had kept flirting with her which grated on Hermione's nerves and told her parents numerous times how he believed they would end up together. Needless to say her parents were on his side and Cassandra Granger often invited Ron over for dinner where she would throw knowing looks at her daughter that made Hermione want to vomit. She knew who Harry was talking about and she sincerely hoped that it was not Ron Weasley who she was matched with.
She pulled away from the hug quickly while Ron turned his eyes to his best friend. "My sisters in the bathroom mate, and crying by the sound of it I figured you'd want to take care of her," implicitly telling Harry to get out so he could speak to Hermione. Harry was torn between comforting his girlfriend and separating his two best friends when he sighed and got up and walked over to the bathroom. Ron turned to Hermione and grinned "so-," he started before Hermione interrupted "I really have to give this back to your mom Ronald" she said using his full name while grabbing the tea cup. "Oh uh alright" he awkwardly scratched his head before stepping out of her way. Hermione exhaled the breath in her throat as she walked down the steps happy she had avoided another confrontation.
She remembered when she had come over for dinner last month and had been chatting with Ron in his room happy because he hadn't tried anything on her yet. She realized it had gotten late and when she stood up she gave Ron a hug and had turned around before he had grabbed her arm and swung her to him forcing his tongue in her mouth. She had slapped him hard before stomping out. She had used mouthwash three times all while cursing the ginger. She had stopped coming to lunch at the Burrow after that when she spent three weeks with her Grandma in the U.S. in order to get away from the stress of having to deal with everyone's urging to give Ron another chance. Harry and Ginny were the only ones on her side who also realized Ron was not worthy enough of Hermione and that they would be miserable together.
She had just walked into the kitchen when she saw Molly and Arthur Weasley in a passionate hug. "Oh god" she shouted nearly dropping the teacup and shattering it again. "Sorry Molly" she said flustered before turning around and started to nearly run out. "No that's quite alright Hermione" said Arthur Weasley "please come back I have something important to tell you."
That stopped her. Arthur worked in the Ministry of Magic so if he had something to tell her it was "-about the marriage law she questioned?" turning around. Arthur sighed before speaking "Molly you should get the other kids before I start." Mrs. Weasley sighed as well and gave him a peck on the cheek, they had started to show a lot more affection after the war, and walked over taking the teacup from Hermione's hands while starting up the stairs to gather everyone. "Come Hermione" said Arthur Weasley "maybe you should sit down on the sofa for this." Hermione exhale hard again before nodding and walking into the living room.
This was not going to be good.
