Disclaimer: I still do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter Two
McGonagall stood up slowly, the babble of outraged and angry noise faded gradually, incensed whispers still echoing around the Great Hall. "All students who are seventh years will need to remain in the Great Hall today; you will be missing your first lessons of the day." She sat down heavily, frowning unhappily.
Madam Pomfrey leaned across to murmur soothingly at her, "You can't do anything to help Minerva. Everything will be fine; some of them might even enjoy it." Around her, the other professors nodded their agreement through mouthfuls of toast and pumpkin juice.
Finally, the bell rang and the younger students dispersed to their various lessons, the teachers disappearing as well, leaving McGonagall and the very unhappy seventh year students.
She stood up again, every head turned to look at her, hoping that she had a solution. She didn't. "As you are all aware, the Marriage Law will affect every single one of you in here. Unfortunately, I cannot do anything to prevent the marriages. I have tried to persuade the Minister but he insists that the Marriage Law cannot have exceptions." Her lips grew dangerously thin. "He has also decreed that-" She paused and half whispered the next word, wincing with distaste "conjugal- chambers will have to be constructed in the castle or the grounds so that those of you who are married have somewhere to go. Also, anyone whose spouse does not attend Hogwarts will be Flooed in twice a week for compulsory visits."
At her words, the collective shoulders of every student slumped miserably – their last chance had failed them.
She continued in a much brighter tone than she was feeling, "Today, you will all receive the names of your partners. Hogwarts is going to be used as a meeting point today where all participants in this law will receive an owl with the name of their partner on. This means that those of you who will have partners outside of Hogwarts will be able to talk to them today. Oh, and also, every couple has a compulsory meeting with the Ministry, the details of which will be included in your letter."
There was a loud silence flooding across the Hall – the dawning realisation that there was no way out of this law was growing on everybody. Suddenly, a loud pop made people jump. It was followed by several more and hundreds of witches and wizards began Apparating into the Great Hall.
They began filling up the empty spaces on the House benches, some of them such as Fred and George greeting Hogwarts students that they already knew. Some of them attempted happiness, others sat despairing and miserably, a few looked as if they were ready to commit suicide and a few dealt with the pressure by being irritatingly loud and annoying – Fred and George amongst this latter category.
Suddenly, a whisper of wings was heard, growing steadily louder and louder as thousands of owls flooded into the Hall, beady eyes searching for their letters' recipient before swooping down to present the missive. The Hall was dangerously silent, the tension palpable as the unwilling participants in the new legislation ripped open their letters.
A mutual howl of dissent ripped through the air, voices tearing across each other as the letters were read and partners revealed.
Loud cries of, "Oh God, not him!" and "But, I can't marry her!" filled the Hall.
"Would all prospective couples please find each other and sit together? Thank you." McGonagall's voice sounded over the clamour, magically amplified.
Hardly anyone moved, they were busy berating their new fiancées with their friends.
"So, who've you got?" Ron leaned across to Harry, a pained look on his freckled face.
"Lavender." Harry muttered.
Ron winced and clapped him on the shoulder, "Good luck mate. I've got Padma. You know, Padma Patil. She hates me." He swallowed heavily and turned to look at the twins. "What about you two?"
Fred spoke first, "Ange. That'll be okay, right Ange?"
Angelina was sat next to him; she looked shocked, slightly apprehensive but not quite as traumatised as most of the other people in the room. "Naa, it'll all be okay. God, who would have thought I'd be marrying Fred Weasley? I dunno what my mum will say."
Fred looked indignant, "I thought your mum loved me." Angelina merely laughed mockingly.
"I've got Luna Lovegood!" George cried in dismay.
Fred and Angelina looked at one another and burst into laughter. George slumped onto the bench, burying his head in his hands.
"Hello." A dreamy voice sounded, Luna stood behind George, smiling inanely.
"Oh god." George said, his voice muffled.
"Oh, be nice." Ginny snapped, nudging him with a pointed elbow, "I've got Lee."
Luna sat down daintily behind George, looking at him with concern, "Is he alright?"
No one appeared to hear her, George's head flung upward and Fred and he spoke in menacing unison, "You mean… our mate Lee is marrying our baby sister?"
Ginny nodded gleefully. "Yup. And there's absolutely nothing you can do about it."
"The contract we sign merely prevents spouses from killing one another; there is nothing in it about older brothers murdering their younger sister's fiancée." Fred informed her.
"I'm with Zabini." Hermione said quietly, her face a mask of despair. "He's a bloody Slytherin."
"Oh god, and his mother is one of those old-fashioned types, they'll try and stop you working Hermione. He's looking for a trophy bride." Ginny sympathised, throwing an arm around her friend's shoulders. Hermione swallowed heavily several times, struggled to hold in her wave of emotion and gave up – dissolving into tears.
"I don't suppose any of you know who…" Percy paused to look down at his letter, "Cho Chang is?"
Harry and Ron exchanged looks. "Yeah, she's Ravenclaw. Dead clever, dated that Cedric Diggory for a while. And erm…she's Harry's ex." Ron replied.
Percy looked alarmed – his eyebrows raising dramatically and disappearing in his red hair. Harry laughed, "She's okay, honestly. You'll probably like her."
Seamus and Parvati wandered over, hand in hand and wearing matching blissful smiles. "We were matched." Parvati announced happily, "We're so happy. We thought we might not be put together."
"That's good then." Ginny said, slightly sarcastically.
Parvati seemed not to notice, "I know, isn't it?" She paused and her voice took on its typical gossipy tone, "Guess what? Hannah and Neville are matched, everyone thinks that Augusta had something to do with it, I mean everyone knows that they were perfect for each other."
"Wow, that's amazing!" Ginny grinned and looked about the Hall, finally spying Neville smiling shyly at Hannah. Finally, a good side to the Law – Hannah and Neville were the perfect couple; they just needed a little push to get them together, something that the Law had provided.
"And, you'll never guess who Dean has got? That Pansy Parkinson girl, honestly, she looks like a pug. He's so unhappy about it!" Parvati continued delightedly, obviously she had taken it upon herself to distribute news of as many of the couplings as possible.
Suddenly, Katie Bell ran over to George and flung herself between the twins, tears streaming down her face.
"Katie?" Fred said worriedly.
"What's wrong?" George asked, frowning with concern.
"Draco Malfoy! He's my h-h-usb-band. He's j-just been utterly f-foul to me." She sobbed.
"Oh god." George said, hugging her. Fred turned to look at the Slytherin table, Draco had his eyes fixed on Katie, a disgusted expression in his face. He looked away and began talking to Zabini who was wearing a pained look and muttering the word 'Mudblood'. Hermione cried harder.
"It's okay." Fred reassured her, "You can appeal against the Law, they can change it for you."
"Really?" Katie asked hopefully.
"Yeah." Fred said, far more confidently that he felt. Swapping partners would be a difficult and time consuming business, the Ministry would not be changing any of these couplings.
"Oliver!" Harry cried suddenly, spying his former Quidditch captain in the throng of people.
"Alright Harry?" Oliver said amiably, striding toward the small group. "Guess what? I'm with Alicia."
"Damn, I wanted Spinnet." George moaned, "I've got that." He gestured to Luna who was waving her arms around wildly and muttering to herself.
"What is she doing? Is she alright?" Oliver asked, torn between amusement and apprehension.
"Probably seen some Nargles." Ginny said knowledgeably.
This was too much for everyone, the whole group burst into laughter, forgetting for a light hearted moment their troubles and prospective spouses.
A/N: This is probably the last group chapter, I will now be showing individual couplings including some weddings (obviously, not every couple will have their wedding described because it would get boring), possibly some arguments and a few Ministry meetings. If you have any requests for a specific couple to go first then let me know!
