A/N: Chapter 3! Heavy dialogue, just a warning

.: *Aparecium*\:.

Ginny, Harry, and Hermione sat together once again in the living room, still waiting for the rest of the family to wake up. Ron especially was still snoring loudly, dead to the world when Harry had went upstairs to dress. Fred had left Hermione in the kitchen after their talk, going upstairs to find George, and clear his head.

"You mean your and Fred's tattoo's are like mine and Harry's?" Ginny asked, twiddling Hermione's fingers in her lap. "It can't be a dating thing then, you and Fred have never been together."

"I'm not saying it's because you're dating, I think it's something bad, Gin." Hermione stressed, trying to get her friend's to guess instead of saying outright what might be looming over their heads. But Hermione also knew, from the previous seven years, that Harry wasn't going to catch on to her subtle remarks, and was banking on Ginny. As it turned out, Ginny was banking on Harry, as she wasn't catching on to Hermione either.

"Hermione, you're not making sense." Ginny sighed, dropping her friend's hands, flopping into the couch cushions. Hermione sighed, ready to try again when she was interrupted by two bodies jumping over the back of the couch next to her and in front of she and Ginny. Harry leaned the other way to avoid his glasses being knocked off his face. Fred leaned into Hermione's shoulder to push her further away from Ginny, creating a space for him between the girls. George nuzzled between their legs, eventually ending with one of Ginny's legs over his shoulder and Fred's next to his arm.

"I think you'll find Granger's making perfect sense, Gin-Gin. You're just denying the obvious." George nudged his sister, wagging his eyebrows at her and Harry. Hermione huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. Ginny also folded her arms, glaring down at her older brother.

"No George, I don't. Why don't you explain."

"It means, dear sister of mine, that Granger and Freddie are," here George paused dramatically, "soul mates." Ginny scoffed, smacking the back of his head and the same time Fred kicked his leg out at his brother's side.

"That's not what it means, Georgie." Fred scolded, surprising Harry and Hermione with the twins' disagreement.

"What else could it be? It's the only significance that would make sense with the tattoos. What other reason would cause Fred and Hermione's Patronus' to cross paths?" George stressed, and Ginny gave Fred a contemplative look.

"And your tattoo prints are for sure otter prints?" Ginny stressed, taking Fred's wrist in her hand when he offered it.

"Hermione said they are, so, yes." Hermione nodded, agreeing with Fred. Ginny stared at the tattoo on her brother's hand longer, as if it would answer for itself why it existed.

"And these are fox prints; I checked in my book Prints and Pads of the Wizarding World's Animalia." Hermione piped up, getting an amused grin from Fred beside her. Ginny dropped Fred's hand and reached for George's.

"How do you know the print's aren't George's then?" George looked put off.

"Ew, I don't want to be matched with icky Granger." He was met with resounding shouts of 'George!' from each person surrounding him. "Besides, my Patronus isn't a fox; it's a hyena. Completely different animal." Hermione seemed intrigued but didn't press the matter, something Ginny was grateful for, as she wasn't ready to dismiss the current matter. The more she thought on the idea, it became exciting.

Ginny had never thought to pair Hermione with any of her brothers other than Ron, but, thinking things over, she could see how Fred would fit with her best friend. "You know George, I think you may be right. Fred and Hermione are kind of cute together."

The shocked, red faces of Hermione and Fred met her, as well as the highly amused George, and struggling to contain his grin Harry. "You think so Ginny?"

Ginny grinned at George, "Yeah, but you know the best part Georgie?"

"What's that?" George lost his grin for a frown, unsure what his sister was getting at.

Ginny smiled at Harry over her shoulder, receiving a soft smile back, "That means we all have soul mates. And mine is Harry." The three others groaned, hiding behind their hands when Ginny leaned in to snog Harry, giggling like mad when her siblings and Hermione scattered to the kitchen to hide behind her mother.

.: *Aparecium*\:.

Everyone was finally seated around the kitchen table together, eating breakfast as a family. Hermione had made sure to squeeze herself into a spot away from Fred, too nervous around him to be able to relax. She had therefor ended up next to Charlie again, with Fleur on her other side. Fred and George were situated on the other end of the table, and while Fred hadn't looked up from his plate for the whole meal, George had periodically sent her sly grins and winks. She knew her face was beet red by now, but Charlie and Fleur either didn't notice or graciously ignored her complexion.

"Hermione, dear, would you like more rolls? You're still looking a bit peaky dear." Mrs. Weasley stressed, handing the plate of breakfast roll down the line. Charlie was about to hand it to Hermione but noticed her pained expression and hesitated.

"That's alright Mrs. Weasley, I think I'm quite full, thank you." Mrs. Weasley frowned at her, causing Hermione to prepare for a tongue lashing.

"Oh, Hermione, you're much too small, you really should —"

Fred interrupted, speaking up for the first time during the meal, "Mum, leave her alone." Everyone found this reaction strange, but no one was more shocked than Mrs. Weasley.

"I'm not — Hermione dear you know what I mean," Mrs. Weasley tried to coerce her once more to take another roll, and she did; but immediately handed it back to Charlie the moment Molly's smug grin turned towards another victim of second helpings. Charlie grinned down at her, ripping into the roll happily, starting up conversation with Ron on his other side. Their breakfast was then interrupted by Errol, crashing into the table with no prior warning upending the half empty bowls and dishes in the center of the group. Hedwig followed in gracefully, landing on the back of Harry's chair, cooing to him gently.

"Errol you ruddy thing, get off my eggs!" Ron swatted at the owl, sending the poor thing further down the table. Fleur stopped the owl gently, picking him up on her arm for him to recuperate. Bill reached over and dislodged the letter hanging from the owl's leg. Hedwig also had a letter on her leg, this one more official, marked with the Ministry's insignia.

"It's from Dad," Bill says, reading the letter quickly, a deep frown marring his face.

"Read it out loud Bill," Charlie asked, waving his brother on. Bill nodded, leaning into the table resting his arms on the wood.

"He says, 'The Ministry is sending out the letters now, don't panic, Percy and I will be home as soon as possible to further explain." Bill folded the letter up once more, and Harry took this as his cue to take the letter Hedwig was trying to pass off to him. Once she was unburdened, Hedwig fluttered to Flier and Error, also receiving a pet and pieces of bacon.

Harry opened the Ministry's letter and began reading without further prompting, "To whom it may concern of The Burrow, St. Ottermole, England

As of May 2, 1998, the Ministry of Magic has decreed a necessary constitution of a marriage law. This law will rationalize our growing need to stand together, and grow our community anew from these retched times. All unmarried witches and wizards between the ages of sixteen and thirty have acquired a soul bond mark on the eve of the aforementioned date.

The Ministry would like to congratulate those who have discovered their soul bond mate. Those who have not will be receiving a letter from the Ministry to help determine their identity to you.

All bond mates must announce their marriage date to the Ministry, which must occur within the next year. Married couples must produce one magical child within a year after the marriage date. If one or both partners are in school, the couple may wait for an extra year after graduating before conceiving children. Failure to conceive may cause in couples being rematched to ensure further magical children.

Prior attachments have been put into consideration, and if you have received a soul mark and are currently attached to an eligible candidate, please make an appointment with a Ministry official to have your bond altered.

If there are any questions, the Ministry is happy to receive your letters.

Thank you, have good day." Harry's voice petered out, placing the letter gently on the kitchen amidst the scattered dishes and cutlery. The table was silent, everyone too shocked at the truth of their tattoo's to say anything. George was the first one to break the silence.

"'Mione, I sometimes really hate when you're right."

.: *Aparecium*\:.

A/N End chapter 3!