Hermione slept surprisingly well that night, with minimal fretting about the letters she knew would be arriving the following night for herself, Ron, Percy, and Charlie. All of them had decided to take their chances with finding love through the matching spell. Harry and Ginny had registered with the ministry the day before. Angelina had accepted George's proposal, also desiring the comfort of an old friend, and they were planning to visit the Ministry later that day to make their arrangement official. Luna and Hannah had decided to pair themselves with Hannah's old Hufflepuff friends, Ernie Macmillan and Justin Finch-Fletchley, who had been dating since after the final battle. Hermione felt happy for her friends.
She decided to make the most of her day, expecting the owls with her match to arrive around 8:00 that night. Although her boss had offered her the day off from work, Hermione decided to go anyways, for something to keep her mind busy during the day.
She was working on writing an agreement, to be signed by the British, German, Dutch, French, Belgian, and Norwegian Ministries of Magic, stipulating for the safe passage of merpeople through the North Sea. The plan would have expert spell-casters from each country create Undetectable tracts of water, where the merpeople would have passage safe from Muggle Ships. Hermione spent her morning drawing up a draft of the law. After a quick lunch with Ron and Harry, Hermione Apparated to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where she was to meet with the Queen of the North Sea.
Chomping on some gillyweed, Hermione thought fondly for a moment of her old friend Neville before diving into the water to meet the Queen at the appointed location a half mile out to sea.
The meeting went well, Hermione thought later, as she emerged from the water and dried her clothes quickly. It's outrageous that most witches and wizards would rather never interact with non-humans than have a meeting with them, she thought. It's this sort of species-based bigotry that is the biggest problem facing wizardkind after the demise of Voldemort. The Queen had made a few suggestions to Hermione, who admittedly felt rather foolish for having forgotten to stipulate in her draft of the agreement that the locations for the Undetectable channels would be chosen by the merpeople. That being said, the Queen had been kind to her and grateful that Hermione had thought to include her in the decision-making process at all. Hermione had stayed past the end of the meeting to have a small meal of fish with the Queen, who had told her a story about the last foolish decision wizards and witches had made about the North Sea. Apparently the British had decided that it would be a good idea to experiment on breeding Dementors who could survive underwater to avoid any underwater escapes from Azkaban. Their failure to consult with the merpeople had led to several terrible altercations with underwater Dementors.
Ludicrous!, Hermione thought to herself, drying her hair with a wave of her wand.
Noticing the position of the sun in the sky, Hermione realized that she had only a little time before her letter was due to arrive at the Burrow. She quickly Apparated back to the Burrow, finding the whole family, as well as Harry, sitting in the living room awaiting the owls. Squeezing into a place on the couch between Harry and Charlie, Hermione at once found herself in a state of anxiety which she had not felt all day due to her intense work schedule. No one in the Burrow spoke, but there was a collective intake of breath as four specks appeared through the window. As the owls grew closer, Hermione felt her heart palpitating wildly in her chest. All of a sudden the letter was in her hand; that same black spiky writing was on the front, and the same thick red seal imprinted on the back. Hermione knew that there was no going back.
"Well, why don't you take turns," Molly said. "That way it's not so much of a shock all at once."
Charlie went first, his muscular hands quivering at the thought of having to give up his independent lifestyle. His eyes flitted across the paper in his hands, finally a grin breaking onto his face.
"Eleanor Quimby!," he said. "Ell, I call her. She's a dragonologist, just transferred here from Norway after the war to be back near her family. I guess the Ministry's spell did all right here; I was definitely worried I would be stuck with someone who wanted me to transfer back to a desk job! She was two or three years behind me at Hogwarts, a Ravenclaw, I think."
The whole room lit up with the joy of Charlie's discovery; each of them had worried that he, of all people, would be the least happy of everyone.
"I remember her, she was my year at Hogwarts," Percy chimed in. With a slight surge of confidence, he opened his own letters. Scanning it quickly, he announced "Audrey Davis. I've never met her before, but I suppose there's no time like the present."
Ron was next, slipping his finger under the seal and pulling out the letter. "Romilda Vane," he said dejectedly. "I suppose it could have been Bullstrode," he mumbled under his breath. Hermione and Harry exchanged a look, both recalling Ron's brief infatuation with Romilda after he ate love-potion infused chocolates from her. Hermione sincerely hoped that Romilda had grown up a bit since leaving Hogwarts, and did recall seeing her fighting valiantly against Death Eaters in the Final Battle. Hopefully she has a little more maturity now, Hermione thought.
That left only Hermione there with her letter unopened on her lap. Her hands quivered as she picked it up, slipping her finger under the seal to pry it open. Her head spinning, Hermione saw a blur of potentially terrible situations flash through her head: VincentCrabbeGregoryGoyleDracoMalfoyTheodoreNottCormacMcLaggen. To calm herself, she read through the entire letter before getting to the name at the bottom.
Dear Ms. Granger,
As you did not report with a partner to the Ministry within the 24-hour time allotment, you were entered this evening into the pool of souls for matching. We are pleased to say that you have been matched with a wizard who we can guarantee is your soul mate!
We encourage you to be in touch with your match as soon as possible, in order to become acquainted before your wedding, which must take place before January 1st. We also would like to take a moment to remind you that you must produce two children within five years of marriage.
Your match is Neville Franklin Longbottom.
All the best,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Hermione grinned broadly. "Neville!," she said aloud, and was greeted by yelps of joy from the Weasley family. Ginny kicked her under the table and mouthed "he's gotten very handsome" before winking at Hermione.
Neville was in his treehouse in the Whispering Willow when the owl came, wanting to be alone when his life changed forever. It was strange, he thought, being at such a crossroads in his life. A year ago, after the Battle of Hogwarts, he had wanted nothing more than to be a child again while simultaneously feeling, for the first time, adequate and appreciated for his role as in the Final Battle and in securing Hogwarts during his seventh year there. It was a strange feeling, having transitioned from bumbling, dorky Neville to 'war hero' Neville, as the Daily Prophet had described him. But there was still the part of him which loved being home. He adored the safety and security of his place on earth—his home and his garden. He hoped with every fiber of his being that the witch he was matched with would understand, would be happy to spend time with him there. Of course, he reasoned, he would have to get to know her too, and to learn her quirks and about the places which made her feel at ease. He was, he realized, excited for that, but he did hope that she would accept him for everything he was.
An tawny owl appeared on the horizon, hovering over Longbottom Manor for a minute before soaring out to the treehouse where he waited.
Dear Mr. Longbottom,
As you did not report with a partner to the Ministry within the 24-hour time allotment, you were entered this evening into the pool of souls for matching. We are pleased to say that you have been matched with a wizard who we can guarantee is your soul mate!
We encourage you to be in touch with your match as soon as possible, in order to become acquainted before your wedding, which must take place before January 1st. We also would like to take a moment to remind you that you must produce two children within five years of marriage.
Your match is Hermione Jean Granger.
All the best,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Neville felt his mouth split into a broad grin, before he climbed down the ladder to run off and tell his Gran.