Thanks to everyone who has read my story and my first (and only) reviewer: LadyH.J.P.-P.
LadyH.J.P.-P: I love your suggestion to split up Ginny and Harry however the fic will be based around Hermione/Draco so Ginny/Draco won't happen :( Although, in this chapter hopefully you'll enjoy who I've partnered Harry/Ginny with.
Pleae don't hate me if your favourite couples have meen split! PARTNERS WILL BE CHANGING! It has taken me 2 hours to work out who to put with who and if they will be swapping and how they will appeal. I won't say much more or else I'll give it away! Hopefully you'll like this chapter and I've loosely planned out the rest of the story so I know roughly where I'm heading with this! Once again: enjoy...
When Forces Collide
-After the wizarding war ended the magical population hit an all time low and all of the students have returned to a rebuilt Hogwarts to finish their school year. As a result the Ministry of Magic have issued a new law. A marriage law. Now every wizard aged 16 to 35 is paired up – no exceptions. So what happens when soul mates are split, enemies are matched and friends are torn apart?
"Hermy… Herms… Hermione… HERMIONE!" The final sound of a screaming Ginny Weasley forced Hermione awake with a groan.
"Good, your up," the perky ginger witch's voice chirped.
Hermione mumbled back "Not by choice," earning her the famous Ginny glare. Before the little disagreement could spiral out of control, two owls tapping at the window sobered Hermione from her sleepy haze.
"Whe-where are the others?" However Ginny was to scared to respond. Their fate – sealed in those Ministry sealed envelopes. "Ginny." The young with returned to her senses and hastily responded, "They left ages ago, classes are cancelled for today to they let you sleep in – it's 11 o'clock."
The tapping continued signalling that the Ministry owls were growing impatient. A shaky Hermione swung her legs out of bed and stumbled over to the window. She reluctantly took the letters from the identical barn owls before they flew away. She turned to face her friend holding the letters that would change their lives forever.
"Ginny, you and Harry will be together. Everyone knows you two are an item – even the Ministry idiots wouldn't split up the 'it' couple." Hermione smiled at the witch in front of her. Ginny was no longer the little girl in the chamber of secrets who needed saving. Her long red hair was starting to turn a light brown at the ends making her look more matured, her bright green innocent eyes had been replaced with a deep moss colour filled with pain from the loss of loved ones and her untouched pale skin was now home to multiple cuts and bruises. Despite the change in appearance Ginny was still, Ginny. The same hopeless romantic who had fallen in love with the boy who lived all those years ago.
Passing the cream coloured envelope over to Ginny, Hermione stared down at the letter.
"We should wait for the others," Ginny said, "Shouldn't we?"
Postponing the inevitable sounded good to Hermione so she nodded. They ran downstairs to the common room after Hermione had dresses in a plain red t-shirt and black skinny jeans paired with worn black ballet flats. The two girls stumbled down the last two steps and fell into the common room. Ron and Harry poked their heads from the couch they were sitting on and went over to help their girlfriends up.
It was no secret that Harry and Ginny were dating much to the annoyance of Ron; however few people knew about Ron and Hermione. Few people had guessed correctly assuming they were 'just friends' however those who were knowledgeable of their situation knew how they cared for each other. After their encounter in the Chamber of secrets they had been virtually inseparable however Hermione refused to say 'love'. Ron had agreed it was still to early to say they were 'in love' however it looked like it was heading that way. 'Sickeningly sweet' George had called them.
The two boys reached down to their partners and pulled them up into a warm embrace. The common room was empty presumably as it was in fact breakfast but due to the letters in the fours hand's – everyone had lost their appetite. Even Ron.
"Together" Harry muttered. They all nodded.
"Three.." Ginny said.
Ron continued "Two…"
And Hermione finished, "One…"
The ripping noise of four letters echoed around the abandoned common room. As if in slow motion, all of them scanned down the page for a name, any name. Ginny and Harry's hands' fell from each others grasp and Ron let out a small gasp. Hermione read the letter as fast as she could.
Dear Hermione Jean Granger,
After the recent decline in the magical population due to the war, it has come to the ministry's attention that something must be done to increase the population. Due to this issue a new Marriage Law states that all witches and wizards aged between 16 and 35 are to be married. No pure blood can marry a fellow pure blood and no muggle born can marry anther muggle born. Half bloods can marry either a pure blood, fellow half blood or a muggle born. This is to prevent a new generation of Squibs.
Currently married couples will be reassessed within then next two months to determine if a couple may stay together. Couples must be wed within three months upon receiving this letter and must have produced a child or be pregnant nine months after marriage. Two years after marriage it is expected that couples will have two children – minimum. Cheating on your partner is a crime and those who cheat shall be punished according to the severity of their crimes. Those who don't produce a child within the dedicated time will be brought in to the ministry for questioning. Couples who are seen to break any requirements of the Marriage Law will be sent to Azkaban. Only in extreme cases may couples appeal for a re-assessment of their partnering. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Your partner is: Draco Lucius Malfoy
Yours truly, Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Hermione's thoughts raced around her head. Malfoy. She was going to have to marry Malfoy. Known Death Eater. Fellow Head. Her tormentor from the start of school. Draco Malfoy. Just as her vision started to go blurry Ron put a stable arm around his girlfriend. More thoughts started swimming around the confused witch's head. What would happen to Ron and her? Who did he get?
She pulled herself out of her day dream and focused on the friends around her. All of them looked sickened by their outcomes.
"Wh-who did you get Harry? You don't look happy. Did-didn't you get each other? Ginny?" Tears started to well up in the youngest Weasley's eyes at the mention of her boyfriend.
"We're not together, Hermione" Harry stated. She was sure they would be partnered together. They were in love and everyone knew it,
"Who…?" Ginny uttered.
"I got Luna," replied a monotone Ron. His usual passion and emotion had disappeared. The spark behind his eyes had gone out.
"Lee, Lee Jordan from Fred and George's year. Not… Not you, Harry…" With that Ginny collapsed into Harry's strong arms as she cried a river.
"Mine says undecided. I don't… What could that mean? Hermione?" Harry questioned the bushy haired brunette but she wasn't listening. She was completely blank faced. No feelings other than regret. Other than pure hatred for the ministry. Other than pure despair.
"Mione- wh did you get?" Ginny asked between sobs.
"Draco. I got Draco."
She removed herself from Ron's arms and left the common room walking no where in particular but she found herself heading towards the slytherin dungeons. Just as she realized where she was and was about to head back onto Gryffindor safe land and sinister yet sexy voice whispered from behind her.
"Granger, seems we've been paired…"
In an instant Hermione spun run to face her new fiancé, wand out ready to attack.
"Calm down, Granger. I'm not going to hurt you!" Draco shouted. "I wouldn't want to do that to my future wife now would I?" His signature smirk crawled back onto his face and Hermione turned to run. She wanted to run away from the boy who hated her. She wanted to run away from her friend's sympathetic looks. She wanted to run away from her fate.
She kept on running until she turned a corner and crashed straight into Draco's best friend: Blaise Zabini. A small scream escaped her mouth before she cursed herself for showing fear. He simply chuckled at her before stepping to the right and watching her resume running down the corridors. She made it to the entrance to the great hall to be greeted by a huge crowd made up of the older students. Weaving through the students, she eventually found Harry, Ron and Ginny. They all stated firing questions at her about where she went and if she was ok. Hermione just shook her head wordlessly saying she didn't want to talk. Before anyone could respond to the little gesture; McGonagall stood up by the doors of the great hall.
"Students," she began, "As you all know you now all have your partners. So, lower school students will continue sitting on the now smaller house tables whereas you shall sit at smaller round tables seating ten, WITH your partner." Once the small speech had finished McGonagall flicked her wand and the doors opened. Towards the front of the hall there were still four shrunken house tables. They only reached halfway up the hall before reaching about fifteen small circular tables.
"Now," McGonagall continued. "I shall call out you and your partner's name and you may enter together and pick a table."
"Daphne Greengrass and Anthony Goldstein,
Astoria Greengrass and David Carwell,
Alicia Spinnet and Alexander Dulan,
Susan Bones and Zacharias Smith,
Marietta Edgecombe and Michael Corner,
Olivia Tomlinson and Terry Boot,
Karren Harris and Peter Leinche,
Potter- you can just go in,
Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy," At the mention of her name Hermione obediently marched to the front of the crowd and met the rather fearful looking ferret. It had apparently dawned on him that in three months they would be married. He didn't insult her like she was expecting and took that as a good sign. "Hopefully he'll stay quietly in shock for our whole marriage," Hermione muttered to herself. Ron, standing next to her, heard the sarcastic comment and let out a muffled chuckle. Hermione stormed off to the table Harry was sitting at. Draco had no choice but to sit there so he reluctantly pulled out a chair and threw his body down in protest.
"Luna Lovegood and Ron Weasley," the list continued,
"Ginny Weasley and Lee Jordan,
Pansy Parkinson and George Weasley,
Ciara Kiffe and Vincent Crabbe,
Lavender Brown and Blaise Zabini,
Cho Chang and Neville Longbottom,
Jessica Harris and Justin Finch-Fletchley,
Romilda Vane and Jonathan Kiffe,
Padma Patil and Seamus Finnigan
Pavarti Patil and Dean Thomas,
Hannah Abbot and Cormac McLaggen,
Josephine Lambert and Ernie Macmillan,
Millicent Buulstrode and Theodor Nott." As all the couples entered the hall and found a table the lower school sat watching events unfold in horror. In a few years that would be them…
Turning to face the now sitting couples McGonagall spoke for the last time, "Now I realize that some of your partners no longer attend Hogwarts however they will be staying in the marriage wing until you complete school. Now if there are any other questions, please find me in my office." The elder witch turned around, her black robes swishing t the movement, and purposefully walked off towards her office.
Sitting around Hermione's table was Harry, with no partner yet; Ginny, also alone and Lee had finished school the year before the war; Ron and Luna who was talking to herself about nargles in the minister's head; Neville and Cho who had chosen to repeat her seventh year with the year below her as she didn't receive the results she was aiming for due to the business with her mother; Blaise and a complaining Lavender Brown – as usual; and lastly Hermione and Draco who was whispering to Blaise.
Hermione was used to seeing smiling faces eager to learn. Not as eager as she usually was of course but still with some drive and ambition. As she glanced around the great hall, there were defeated faces everywhere...
DISCLAIMER: I (unfortunately) don't own Harry Potter *sigh* however if JKR wants to hand over the rights - I'm up for it ;)
So - what did you think? You like the pair or hate them? Who's your fave pair so far? What should happen next? Leave a comment or PM me any suggestons! Hopefully by next chapter there will be two reviews? *hint hint!*
Before I go I'll give you a quick sneak preview:
"What's going on?" Hermione wondered. "And why is George here? Hi anyway George." In response he simply nodded and went back to pulling his hair out.
Ginny was the only one who responded in an attempt to update Hermione, "Harry got a letter today. A letter saying who his partner is..." Hermione gulped. She wished the best for her friends and it killed Hermione to see Ginny and Harry torn apart.
"So...?" Hermione pressured Ginny for an answer.
Before Ginny had a chance to calmly reply and emotional George shouted unintentionally at Hermione.
"HE GOT HER!"
Who do you think Harry got patnered with? Whoever guesses correctly first in the comments will get a character named by them in a future chapter. So begin guessing!
Until next time, love you guys
-ScarsAndStars