A/N: Back again. I hope you like it. Please please please please review. (By the way, this is AU, so some people lived. There may also be American references. Sorry)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

The nine young adults apparated to the world cup campgrounds. It wasn't as crowded as before. Though the war was over, most people erred on the side of caution and decided to go home after the game instead of staying, but there were campgrounds with extra security measures. They quickly set up the tent with magic and went inside. It was bigger than the last one, with four rooms, a kitchen and two bathrooms as well as a living room. They unpacked their things and sat around the fire in the living room.

"Ron, do you remember the time with Aragog, your face was hilarious."

Ron blushed madly and he tried to make up an excuse. Ron was very brave, Hermione thought, unless it has to do with spiders. Everyone laughed at his discomfort, even Ron himself. They sat talking about old times and their various adventures until they left their tent an hour later. They made it to the Quidditch pitch and started climbing the stairs all the way to the top box behind the Bulgarian goal posts. After a while, the announcer walked onto the center of the field and started the match off in his magnified voice.

"Thank you all for coming to the Quidditch world cup! Before I hand it over to the referee, lets introduce the team. Playing on home turf, it's the Holly Head Harpies." The team flew on to the field as the announce introduced them. "Now, as the visiting team, the Bulgarian National Quidditch team." They, too flew on the field and there was a massive uproar when Viktor flew on the field. Viktor looked right at Hermione and waved, but all the girls around her swooned. The ref took the field and the game started.

Bulgaria got the quaffle first, they took it to the Harpy's side, but the Harpy's keeper blocked it. The Harpies recovered and scored. Hermione and Ron booed at the Harpy's chasers. The Harpy's keeper evaded a bludger hit by the Bulgarian beater, swerved past the keeper and scored once more against Bulgaria. Then, the Bulgarian chaser intercepted a pass and scored on the Harpies. But before they could regain control over the quaffle, the Harpy's beater nearly knocked the Bulgarian chaser off of his broom. The Harpies regained the quaffle.

They passed the quaffle back and forth. It was an intense game. The snitch was nowhere to be found and the Bulgarians were down140 points; 220 to 360. Suddenly Viktor Krum dove straight down. The entire crowd was holding their breath. The Harpy's seeker was neck in neck with Viktor. His hand was stretched forward and he was all the way at the top of his broom. Eight feet from the ground, Viktor's hand closed around the snitch and he pulled up hard. By this time, the entire stadium was cheering and shouting, most members were on their feet. The Harpy's seeker couldn't pull up fast enough and crashed into the ground, but he was able to slow down enough, he was not seriously injured.

Viktor Krum Took a lap around the pitch and stopped right in front of Hermione. He leaned over the bars and gave the snitch to her.

"You're coming, right?" He asked.

Hermione nodded and smiled. Ron, however, was frowning and glaring at the skilled seeker. Viktor, being the gentleman that he is, put his hands up in surrender and gestured between them. Then he flew down to the field to start signing autographs and speak to a reporter of the Prophet. Hermione hugged Ron tightly, they were both happy that Bulgaria won and happy that they had each other, even if it was for a little while longer.

The after party with the Bulgarian team was madly wild, even more so because they one. They took a portkey to some place. There was a huge ballroom and an open bar. Hermione and Ron were sitting at a table with Harry and Ginny, taking a break from dancing. Hermione was fingering her ring and smiling adoringly at Ron as he talked about the game with Harry and Ginny. Hermione had no real interest in Quidditch, but she wanted her boys to be happy.

There was movement behind her and Viktor tapped her on the shoulder.

"My I steal Hermione for a dance?" He asked, looking at Ron.

Ron nodded and Viktor led her to the dance floor right when a waltz was being played. It was from a muggle American movie, Sleeping Beauty, but it was still beautiful. Viktor grabbed her by the waist and twirled her around the dance floor. They danced in silence for the first verse, just listening to it.

I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam
Yet I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem
But if I know you, I know what you'll do
You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream

"I heard about the Marriage Law, and I see your ring. Are you and Ron…?"

"I don't know Viktor. We were too late to file for an engagement. It's too confusing."

"Well you look beautiful tonight."

"Your English got better. Just a hint of the accent."

"Oh, yes, I did a tour of America last year, during the war. I guess I was lucky, but when I heard about the final battle, I was so worried that you had gotten hurt or killed. I value your friendship very much. I still love you, you know, but I understand how it is with you and Ron, and I won't be able to take care of you the way you deserve, what with my profession."

Hermione rested her head on Viktor's broad chest while they still moved across the dance floor.

But if I know you, I know what you'll do
You'll love me at once
The way you did once upon a dream

"I'm engaged" he blurted out suddenly.

"Viktor, that's wonderful! What's her name?"

"Ann Huston. She lives in America. She is nothing like you, but she is nice and smart and beautiful. I care about her a great deal."

"That's wonderful. Where is she?"

"She's in Louisiana, but she's going to travel with me and move to Bulgaria. We're getting married in three weeks. So, I guess that this is our last dance, but I want you to remember that if you need anything, I'm here for you, and so is Ann. I told her about you, she wants to meet with you."

"Viktor, you are amazing. You will always be my first love, but I have to deal with this law and Ron. But could I come to your wedding?"

"Of course. I have your invitation in my jacket."

They danced to the last verse of the song, Viktor spinning Hermione and Hermione laughing at his antics when he tried to sing along to the last part of the song.

I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam

And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem
But if I know you, I know what you'll do
You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream

"I have permission to do this." He said before he leaned over and kissed me briefly on the lips.

Hermione immediately turned to look at Ron, but he was in a debate with his sister. Harry saw though, and raised his brow at her. Viktor bowed at her, and Hermione curtsied back. He hugged her before dancing with another beautiful girl in the crowd.

The dazed girl sat next to Ron and held his hand. She knew she did no longer love Viktor Krum, but they would forever be friends. He did what he needed to say goodbye. She just hoped Ron would be the same way.

She and Ron danced throughout the night before all nine of their group took a portkey back to the campground and stumbled into their tent. Hermione was the last one up and instead of sharing a bed with Ginny, she went into Ron and Harry's room and crawled into bed with Ron. He wrapped his arms around her and they both fell into a deep sleep, dreading the news the morrow would bring.

The group returned early in the morning to the Burrow, were Mrs. Weasley had a large breakfast ready. She was glad her children were a little worse for wear. That meant they had fun, possibly for the last time in their lives. After breakfast had been eaten and the boys, who had possibly drunk too much, were looking better, five owls with five thick envelopes arrived at the table. They all opened the letters at once. Hermione read very carefully.

Dear Hermione Jean Granger,

You fall into the age range for the new mandatory Marriage Law. This letter outlines all that is expected of you.

1. You fill out the attached form and send it back to the Ministry as soon as possible. This ensures that people have partners that suit them. Your survey must be sent back by October 25.

2. Your matches will be sent you on November 1. You will get anywhere from two to six matches, depending on your answers. You must meet at least twice with each match.

3. By December 23, you must pick the match most suitable for you and attend the Ministry ball on the 25th to formally announce your engagement.

4. You must be married to whom you were formally engaged to in the next six months.

5. In the next six years, you must produce at least two children in order to sustain the population. After that, in the next seven years, you must produce at least one more child.

6. Failure to comply with any of these will result in a minimum sentence of 25 years to Azkaban or having your memory wiped, wand snapped and will be banished to the muggle world.

We thank you for you cooperation.

Sincerely,

Miranda Hurtwait.

Hermione sat shocked after reading the letter. They were asking quite a lot in a short amount of time. She looked down at the forms that would specify her future husband. They were several sheets of paper, one question after the other. It was a little overwhelming and she leant against Ron. Ron leant against her and squeezed her shoulder.

Mrs. Weasley passed out quills and set out inkbottles. They began one by one, a determined look on their faces. They had been through much worse. Each one was trying to answer as truthfully as possible, not wanting to get stuck with someone they didn't like. So they worked diligently until they were done. Charlie was the last person done and together, they sent their letters to the Ministry, all they could do was wait.

On Halloween, Hermione and Harry had the night together. Ginny went trick or treating with people in her year, though people would say she was too old, she was determined to celebrate. Unfortunately, Harry could not feel more different. It was the one thing they disagreed on. Harry and Hermione dressed in all black and went to church in Godric's Hollow. After words, they went to the graveyard. It was silent and snow began to gently fall around them. Harry knelt at his parent's graves and put his hand on the tombstone. He seemed to say something. Hermione conjured a wreath of white lilies and placed them at the bottom of the tombstone. After fifteen minutes, she pulled Harry away from the grave and walked him toward a little pub. They got a couple of firewiskis and a bowl of thick stew. They reminisced about their past, trying to forget what would happen tomorrow. Suddenly, Harry was looking straight at her with intense eyes.

"I love Ginny, Hermione. I really do, and if we aren't matched for each other, I might die. I honestly might. I have, we have been through so much, we deserve happiness. I can't believe that their doing this to us. I just can't."

"Calm down Harry. You and Ginny are perfect for each other. I would be surprised if you weren't on the top of her list. Don't worry."

"Hermione, you're my best friend. I hope you end up happy."

"You deserve it more, Harry Potter. More than anything in the world. And whatever happens, I will always be here for you and I will follow you to the ends of the earth."

Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and smiled at her.

"Neither Ron nor I deserve you."

"Yet I am here."