Howl For Me
Chapter 1
Hermione Granger glanced around the conference hall at the gathered people. It seemed like everyone she knew and had heard of was there. She glanced to her right, looking at Harry and Ron who were sitting and talking amongst themselves about what could possibly be going on that everyone had been summoned to the Ministry and wondering what was keeping Kingsley. To her left Hermione found Ginny chatting animatedly with Luna, seeming unaware of the sense of unease running through Hermione.
She didn't know why but as Hermione glanced around, further noticing the inhabitants of the hall, she felt a strange sense of foreboding take hold of her, the icy fingers of dread trailing up and down her spine. She saw so many familiar faces.
There was Seamus and Dean, Neville and his grandmother, George and the other Weasleys, the Patil twins, Hannah Abbott and Terry Boot. She spotted Zacharias Smith and even the three Malfoys. Professor McGonagall was there, and there was Marney from Hermione's department at work along with her husband Liam. Further inspection had Hermione noticing Valmai Morgan and a few of the other women from Ginny's Quidditch team; even old Mr. Ollivander was there. It seemed as though every witch or wizard not currently locked in Azkaban was in attendance.
"Hermione, are you ok?" Harry asked, catching sight of her nervous expression, "You look like you're about to have a panic attack."
Hermione turned to her best friend with wide eyes.
"Harry… I don't know why, but I have this terrible feeling that something bad is going to happen," Hermione confided in him.
"What kind of bad? Like someone's going to try and attack all of us here?" Harry asked, immediately alert as he glanced around as though expecting someone to stat hexing people just like he'd been learning in Auror training.
"No Harry…. Awful like that we're about to find out something terrible. Why else would the Ministry summon every person from the magical world not locked in Azkaban? Literally everyone we've ever known or heard of is here in this room right now," the concerned, twenty-two year old witch asked in a whisper.
"Maybe they have some kind of announcement and want everyone in the magical world to hear it here so that everyone gets the correct message," Ron suggested, surprising Hermione once again when he actually had a logical and useful suggestion to offer.
Hermione stared at her ex-boyfriend regretfully for a moment. Things with Ron just hadn't worked out. They'd dated for a while and it had been nice, but after the war had ended and everything began to calm down and go back to normal, Hermione and Ron had both realised that they wanted different things out of life. Ron had gone into Auror training with Harry, while Hermione had returned to Hogwarts to complete her education and now worked in the Department of Magical Creatures office. They were still close friends and had parted on good mutual terms, which Hermione was grateful for, but they'd both decided it would be for the best if they broke up.
Ginny and Harry too, had fallen victim to the yearning for different things and had also broken up after a year or so of dating; Ginny joining the Harpies Quidditch team while Harry became an Auror.
"But what kind of announcement is so important that they would drag everyone here and not just put it in the papers or send out owls?" Hermione murmured ominously and she watched both Harry and Ron pale considerably at the kinds of things that might call for this kind of gathering.
Before they could speculate further, Kingsley Shacklebolt strode into the room and took his place at a large lectern. The full Wizengamot were seated behind him and looked on seriously. Hermione felt dread curl in the pit of her stomach as she watched Kingsley call for quiet.
"My good people," he began and Hermione could tell from the strained tone of his voice that he was uncomfortable, "It is under regretful and very serious circumstances that you have all been summoned here today."
He paused to draw in breath and let the seriousness of the moment, the gravity of the situation, fall over the room in a hush. Hermione felt that fist of dread seize hold of her insides and begin to tighten.
"As many of you are probably aware, the wizarding world is in a state of some considerable trouble. You see, as it stands, every free witch or wizard currently residing in Britain is in this very room right now."
Hermione closed her eyes as she realised with a sense of horror where this announcement might be heading. This was going to be even worse than an announcement of some new horror wanting to destroy their world.
"A somewhat alarming realisation, isn't it?" Kingsey appealed to them all and several people nodded in agreement, looking around and frowning in concern. "As is perhaps obvious to you now, the population of witches and wizards within Britain has been greatly diminished due to the wars and resulting deaths of people fighting for both sides. As it stands, there are currently one thousand a fifty three of us," He paused to draw breath, "Of that number, five hundred and twelve of you are married or already beyond the age where producing children is achievable. 22 individuals currently reside in Azkaban Prison and are unlikely to ever be released. A further 289 of you are under the age of seventeen."
Hermione turned to Harry and stared at him, waiting for him to realise the horror that was about to befall them. Waiting for the bomb to drop.
"Something must be done about our drastically reduced population. As of last night, the final vote was taken by the Wizengamot, proposing a drastic decree in order to replenish the magical population of Britain," Kingsley told them, "You have all been brought here to be informed that there is now, in effect, a binding magical Act decreeing that any witch or wizard over the age of seventeen who has finished school and is not already married or beyond the age were having children is no longer possible, must work towards replenishing the population."
Hermione heard several people gasp and wondered if everyone understood the gravity of what was about to happen.
"In effect I'm telling you that you all need to start popping out children," Kingsely said and Hermione could see even from her seat the way the Minister was beginning to grow hysterical, "What many of you might not be aware of, is that witches and wizards cannot conceive children unless they are bound in holy matrimony."
"Hermione, what is he saying?" Harry whispered to her. Before she could explain Kingsley kept speaking, his booming voice drowning out the muttering that had begun amidst the crowd.
"Effective immediately, the two hundred and thirty witches and wizards who are capable of bearing children but not yet joined in matrimony, are hereby ordered to be married to a person of the Ministry's choosing. I have here a list of the couples paired up by several renowned Seers, Arithmancers and Astrologists. Be aware that the person chosen for you is one that it has been foreseen will contribute to a happy and prolific match. As of today, the one hundred and fifteen couples on this list will have one month to join in holy matrimony, at which time they will begin to produce offspring. It has been decreed that each couple will birth a minimum of four live children, including couples that are already married who have less than four kids. Anyone found to have attempted to flee this decree by leaving the country or refusing to marry will be put to death."
The entire occupancy of the room went ballistic. All around her, people were jumping to their feet, shouting at Kingsely, shouting at the Wizengamot, at each other, some hurled a hex – or tried, only to learn that the room had been magically disabled to prevent such an occurrence.
"ENOUGH!" Kingsely roared after they had all been shouting for more than ten minutes.
Everyone fell silent in the face of his ferocity.
"I am more than aware of the outrage you all feel at this decree, given that I myself am among the two hundred and thirty unfortunate witches and wizards that this Decree will directly impact. I understand your outrage, your anger, your fear. I am here to tell you that there is no escape clause. If you refuse this contract, you will die. When the decree was signed and passed last night a spell came into effect that will seek out anyone trying to escape the marriage law. If you try to flee or if you choose not to be married to your designated spouse, you will fall ill and remain that way until you see reason."
"That's not fair!" Someone cried out shrilly.
"No, it's not fair. It's wretchedly unfair that so few of us managed to survive the war, and perfectly horrid that an even larger number of us did not survive. However, our race is very much facing the possibility of extinction. There are only two hundred of thirty of us who have yet to have children that are still able and of age. Only two hundred and eighty-nine of us underage. Our population is currently at less than half of what it was before the wars began, and we are making no effort to save ourselves. We will die out. Without this law we will cease to exist as a species within Britain."
"You don't know that!" someone else called angrily, "Where's the proof?"
"Your proof is right here," Kingsley said, and Hermione watched him lift a small glass ball, one containing a prophecy. He dropped it into something that looked like a penseive and everyone in the room listened as the hollow resonating voice of a seer prophesised the extinction of the magical race within Britain should such a law not be passed.
"Do you understand?" he appealed to them all, "I didn't want to do this. The Wizengamot didn't want to do it. We didn't fight in the war for our freedom only to be forced into a marriage, some of us with people who seem entirely incompatible. But without it, we are all going to be wiped out as a race. We cannot reproduce without being married and so, those of us who can, will be getting married or will be saying their goodbyes and dying within the month."
Hermione expected more outrage, but it seemed that everyone had gone into shock at hearing the news. No one uttered a single word. Hermione didn't want to be the one to ask the most important question on all of this, but she was going to else she'd go mad. Rising slowly to her feet, Hermione felt the eyes of every magical person in the room begin to swivel and fix on her. The Wizengamot stared, Kingsley stared, Ginny beside her looked up at her worriedly, Harry stared as though he hoped Hermione had some plan to enact.
"Kingsley... er, I mean... Minister?" Hermione began, her voice sounding much stronger and sterner than she felt, "I'm sure that of everyone here, those of us on that list of two hundred and thirty people know who we are. It would seem we all have no choice whatsoever but to accept this and get on with it…. Please, could you tell us who it is you've paired us all with?"
Hermione stared into Kingsley dark eyes and she could swear she saw regret, sympathy and sorrow flashing in them as he peered back at her.
"Hermione," Kingsley sighed, "I'm afraid that everyone on this list will be distraught when they learn who they're to marry. Perhaps it is not in the best interest of everyone to hear such a thing here… I'm so sorry."
"On the contrary," an elderly witch cut in before Hermione could feel any true fear about why Kingsley would apologise to her, "I think it would be for the best for the two hundred and thirty people that this affects to hear this together. Anyone who is currently under the age of seventeen, please exit the hall now."
Hermione held her breath as children and teenagers left the hall, several of them carrying out younger siblings or the babies of family friends.
"Anyone who is married please leave now as well, keep in mind that if your are still able to conceive children and have less than four kids, you are expected to try for more," the old woman called and more people left.
"Those of you who are unmarried but no longer able to conceive children, please leave now," the woman called and Hermione felt Ginny reach over and take her hand. On the other side, Harry grasped her hand. All around the room, Hermione looked to see the people who were left.
She, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Luna, Neville, George, Seamus, Hannah, the Patil twins… there were so many more that she knew by name or face. Across the room she saw Malfoy next to Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini, Gregory Goyle and Millicent Bulstrode. There were more. The people in the hall ranged between the ages of seventeen and about fifty or so.
"Alright," The woman said stern, "Minister, I would like to ask you, and the others on the Wizengamot affected by the decree to join the others down there please, while I read out these one hundred a fifteen pairings."
She waited as those people did as they were asked. Hermione stared at her, feeling utter terror trying to take hold.
"Now then. Be warned that making a big deal about this will get you nowhere. This room has been disabled magically to prevent anyone from being hurt. Moreover, as of last night all two hundred and thirty of you have been brought under a protective binding spell. There is no way out. If you try to run, you will become so ill that the Ministry will be able to find you and extradite you from wherever you run to. If you try to refuse the marriage, you will become impossibly ill and stay that way until you agree to the marriage. If you try to do yourself in or try to kill your new spouse, you will be unsuccessful. If you try to have someone else kill your spouse, they will be unsuccessful. There is no way out of this contract and no way for you to avoid marrying the person you have been paired with. And no, you may not swap spouses to someone amid this group that you feel you might prefer to your designated spouse."
She paused for several long minutes, letting that information sink in. Waiting for them all to realise the utter hopelessness of their situation.
"Alright, now I will read out the pairings. When I do I would like each pair to approach each other. If you do not know your intended spouse, introduce yourself and then take a seat beside one another on the benches over there," she pointed, "Minister I feel it's only fitting that we start with you." The old woman said before saying clearly and firmly.
"Kingsely Shacklebolt paired with Valmai Morgan."
Hermione watched the way a young witch who looked to be in her early thirties approached Kingsely, silently shook his hand and offered him a small smile before walking with him to the benches and taking a seat.
"The rest of you take note. That was a perfect example of how you will deal with this situation. I do not want tantrums in this room. I do not want complaints or arguments or anything else."
With that she began reading out pairings, and couples began moving towards the benches and sitting beside one another in silence. Hermione felt her stomach begin to squirm in terror as the number of people began to thin out.
"Neville Longbottom paired with Hannah Abbott," was read and Hermione noticed that Hannah and Neville both looked relieved.
"Harry Potter," the woman read out, "Paired with Tracy Davis."
Hermione saw Harry's left fist clench as he searched the room with his eyes for the Slytherin girl from their year. She was surprised by the way Tracy approached so calmly and offered Harry her hand and a tiny, hopeful smile. In one look she conveyed that she hoped she and Harry cold come to some kind of truce and try to work through this. It was a typical response from a pureblood witch, since she'd probably spent her life preparing for an arranged marriage and at least Harry would treat her properly and wasn't a cruel person.
"Gregory Goyle paired with Millicent Bullstrode."
Hermione watch the pair of former Slytherins turn and grimace at each other, though it looked somewhat good-natured before moving towards the benches.
"George Weasley paired with Angelina Johnson."
George and Angelina smiled at each other and Angelina embraced George in relief before they too made their way over to the bench, George dropped down next to Harry, making sure to clap the bespectacled man on the shoulder to offer him comfort at the idea of marrying a stranger.
"Rolf Scamander paired with Luna Lovegood."
Hermione watched with curiosity as the pair approached each other. Hermione hadn't thought it could be possible for anyone to look as dreamy as Luna, but Rolf Scamander certainly did. She watched them shake hands before sitting with the others.
Hermione glanced at Ginny and Ron, feeling even more nervous as the number of pairings began to dwindle.
"Blaise Zabini," the woman paused squinting before clucking her tongue worriedly, "paired with Ginevra Weasley."
Hermione held her breath, waiting for Ginny to explode and turned to her friend, concerned when it didn't happen. Ginny had gone a deathly shade of white as she stared across the small remaining group of people at Blaise Zabini, who stared right back at her, looking just as disturbed.
"Are you sure you read that right?" Hermione asked the witch quietly.
"Quite sure," the woman replied, the first hint of a sympathetic smile gracing her features.
Stiffly Hermione saw Zabini begin to walk forwards, stoic blankness replacing his pale, horrified expression. Hermione squeezed Ginny's hand reassuringly and felt the girl almost crush her palm in return. Just as stiffly, Ginny moved forwards and shook hands with her new fiancé, not saying a word.
On her other side, Hermione felt Ron's hand wrap around hers and Hermione could tell that after looking at the few remaining people left in the circle he was hoping he's be paired with her. Hermione was hoping it too because the alternatives were… Terrifying.
"Ronald Weasley," the woman began before another one of those pauses "Oh sweet merlin!" she whispered in horror before clearing her throat.
"Ahem. Ronald Wealsey paired with… Pansy Parkinson."
"Fuck!" Ron cursed loudly, squeezing Hermione's hand even tighter and paling even more than Ginny had, making his freckles stand out even sharper. Across the room Pansy burst into furious tears and turned, burying her face against Malfoy's shoulder.
"Miss Parkinson, Mr Weasley, please make your way over to the benches," the woman, whom Hermione suddenly recognised as Madame Atwell, said quietly.
Ron moved to storm over there without even acknowledging Pansy and Hermione tightened her grip on his hand, jerking him back around. Pansy was still crying against Malfoy's shoulder and Hermione could tell she wasn't going to move.
"What are you doing Hermione?" Ron demanded in a whisper.
"Ronald Weasley I know you are upset by this, but I can tell you right now that you are going to be stuck with that girl for the rest of your life. You are going to marry her and you will have children with her. They've made it so you have no choice. So right now, you have a decision to make; you can storm off and throw a tantrum about this, ignoring the fact that your new fiancé is in tears because she's just as unhappy about this as you; or you can go over there and act like the mature man I know you can be while you shake her hand and help the poor thing to her seat," Hermione told him.
She spoke quietly but the room was dead silent but for Pansy's sniffling and sobbing, "Now, the decision is yours, but you should keep in mind that you are going to spend what could very well be the next hundred years or longer married to that young woman. For the rest of your life you and Pansy will have to tolerate each other, have kids together, live together…. Given the demonstrations you've had in the past, I don't think I really need to tell you about the consequences of your actions and how upsetting a woman is not a wise choice, let alone tell you how hostile an environment your marriage will be if you are rude or cruel to Pansy. You might not like it right now, and she might not either. You might never be particularly pleased about this, but this is the way it is. So, you can be nice and considerate, go over there and make peace with her in the hopes that if not a loving marriage you can at least have one that is civil. Or you can storm off like a complete arse and spend the rest of your life alternating between being angry, and feeling awkward and embarrassed every time you look your future wife in the eye."
Everyone in the room seemed to feel the gravity of Hermione's quiet lecture and Ron looked ready to pout but Hermione squeezed his hand hard and glared at him warningly. She could practically feel the way everyone in the room that had been utterly silent up until now as they waited for the opportunity to explode about the turn their lives had taken, was slowly turning to their new fiancé and taking another look, realising that maybe things wouldn't be perfect but they didn't need to be hostile and uncomfortable or painful either.
Hermione held her breath as she watched Ron war with himself. He stared into her eyes for a long moment and Hermione watched the way a little part of him died inside. She knew it was the part that hoped for the loving kind of marriage his parents had. As she stared back Hermione realised too that for all that they'd mutually broken up, Ron still loved her and had probably fostered some secret longing to marry her someday. Hermione knew she felt that way. They'd gone separate ways, but Hermione had secretly wondered if maybe they'd get themselves in order and get back together someday.
There was no hope of that now.
When Ron pulled her into a tight hug, she knew it was his way of completely letting her go. Hermione pressed a soft kiss against the side of his neck where she'd burrowed her face in as she tried not to cry for Ron or for the fact that she had a terrible sinking feeling that she knew who it was she'd been paired with. There was only one person left in this group that would have Kingsley feeling the need to apologise to her.
When Ron let her go he took a deep breath in and sighed it out slowly before he walked towards Pansy. She was still sniffling into Malfoy's shoulder – though he offered her no comfort - and she shrank away when she felt Ron's gentle hand on her shoulder. Hermione held her breath as they took their seats, Pansy still sniffling and red-eyed. She waited, knowing what would be coming and steeling herself against the fact that her life was going to hell in a hand-basket.
The woman opened her mouth again, this time to read out two more names and ruin the lives of two more people.
"Draco Malfoy paired with Hermione Granger."
Across the hall, Malfoy scowled at her letting her know that he was clearly not pleased about this, though Hermione could tell that he too had been expecting this turn of events and preparing himself for the worst. Since the benches where everyone was sitting were behind her, Hermione waited stiffly, refusing to let any emotion show on her face at all as Malfoy slowly came towards her.
She could hear people gasping in sympathy and horror from behind her, suspecting Ginny and her other friends were responsible – no doubt they were worried about how this particular pairing would play out since it was well known that there was bad blood and a nasty history between the handsome pureblood wizard and the pretty muggleborn witch. Hermione just watched and waited as Malfoy came closer. He stopped directly in front of her, standing just a little too close for her to be comfortable and definitely within her personal space, forcing her to have to look up to keep staring stoically into his pointed scowling face.
She tried not to flinch as she watched him roll up his sleeves, revealing the dark mark that was still burned into his skin, a tattooed tribute to which side he'd been on in the war. An ugly reminder of their past. Smirking nastily, he offered her his left hand, the one with the Dark Mark on his forearm, waiting for her to shake it.
Hermione glared up at him, realising that in spite of the war being over, in spite of the fact that they had helped save each other's lives during that war, he wasn't going to make this easy for either of them.
That much was abundantly clear when Hermione shook his hand and he almost crushed her palm even as he used his grip on her to drag her closer until her could murmur into her ear.
"I hope you weren't looking for civility here Granger, because you won't find any."