It had been a couple of days since the article in 'The Daily Prophet' and students were both waiting and fearing for the letters to arrive. Some hoped for the best – perhaps they would be matched with their friends, their second halves, their crushes? Others, like Hermione, knew that such a thing was impossible. If life was out to get them, she was sure it would do it in the worst possible way.
Ron was still raging and swearing every few seconds. Hermione was surprised to see Ron in such a state, but she also understood him, as he was just doing what she herself would have done had she not been raised with iron manners.
Harry was quiet. He spent most of his time deep in thought, and no one could tell what he was thinking of. Hermione was pretty sure that the only thing on his mind right now must be Ginny – after all, they were in love for almost a year and had big plans for the future. She laughed bitterly. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered now, because the ministry had their lives all figured out.
'Bloody hell, bloody hell, bloody hell!' Ron repeated, pacing around the room.
Hermione sighed, putting down her quill and looked around. To be honest, she was getting tired of Ron's constant shouting. She wanted to forget all this madness, and the best way to do so was by immersing herself into schoolwork. Yet it never fully worked for she was always interrupted by Ron.
Sighing again, she took in all the students in the common room. They looked miserable and frustrated, spitting out a curse here and there, but at least they weren't annoying Hermione half to death.
'Ron, please calm down a little.' She pleaded.
'Calm down a little?! Calm down? ME? Are you insane? Has she gone mad, Harry? Have I no right to be angry?!' He looked like he was about to spit out fire and to Hermione's own surprise, she almost laughed.
Composing herself she closed her eyes and rubbed her temples.
'Of course you have the right to be angry, Ron. We all have. But perhaps you could put all this negative energy into something useful; for example, you could look for information on how to avoid this marriage law.'
Ron glared in response. 'And how do you propose I do that?'
'I don't know, maybe talk to your father? He does work in the ministry, you know.'
To Hermione's surprise, Ron smiled like a madman.
'I have a better idea, Hermione. Why don't I just handle it my own way?'
Hermione nodded enthusiastically. He was probably going to go to the library and look for a book on marriage laws. She was planning on doing so herself, but Ron seemed pretty eager –
'WHY MERLIN?! WHYYYYY?!'
Hermione almost jumped a good few feet in the air when she heard Ron's cry. He had his arms extended and his head once again raised at something invisible above. Shaking her head sadly, she exited the common room in a hurry.
She was the Head girl after all. It was her turn to do the rounds, and if she escaped Ron's anger fits, well, the better for her, right?