A/N: I own nothing but an overactive imagination.

The Rift

The next day Ginny came through her floo, waiving a metaphorical white flag in surrender, promising she was not there on Harry's behalf.

The two sat on the sofa and Ginny listened intently, allowing Hermione to detail her and Malfoy's discussion the prior evening.

The red-headed witch, who had originally been so hopeful the law might work in her friends' favor, seemed to finally see the law for what it was...rubbish; Her prior offers of encouragement and her glass-half-full point of view having instantly vanished upon witnessing Hermione's matching.

"I don't mean to sound unsupportive, but do you really think this will work? And even more than that, do you honestly believe you can trust Malfoy?"

"Trust has nothing to do with it. He is a Slytherin through and through. They will do anything to get what they want, and for the first time, Malfoy and I want the same thing."

"But what if it is still some sort of plot?" she whispered. "What if Malfoy is just pretending he wants to bring down the law? What if they really did tamper with the magic and this supposed plan is all just a part of their strategy to distract you? To keep you so preoccupied with something that will never happen that you don't explore other options? What if they are just running out the clock?"

Hermione sat slack-jawed, staring at her friend. What on earth had gotten into her?

"Ginny, do you have any idea how paranoid you sound right now?"

"You can never be too cautious when dealing with a Malfoy. Or have you forgotten that, Mione?" Hermione didn't appreciate the condescending tone in Ginny's voice, but she had to admit that she had a point.

"That's something I could never forget." She rubbed unconsciously at her neck. There were far more reasons for her to distrust Malfoy than to trust him.

"I just don't want you devoting all your time and placing all the hopes of your future happiness on an idea, concocted by a Malfoy, that may not even work! Even if Malfoy is being honest, which I highly doubt, and the two of you are able to show the Ministry that your match was prudent, there is nothing to suggest they will overturn the law. Best case scenario, they reset the charms and you get the chance to look for another partner. Worst case scenario, they force you to marry anyway. You don't know that it will work."

Despite Ginny's argument, Hermione found herself growing more and more frustrated. Didn't anyone trust her judgment and abilities anymore? "And you don't know that it won't. I'm sure that when faced with hard facts and logic - " but she was cut off.

"The Wizingamot isn't like you, Hermione. They don't deal in facts and statistics. They deal in politics. Repealing the law or even modifying it would be political suicide. And I'm sure all the witches and wizards who worked so hard on it this past year would lose their positions. Did you ever think about that? The Wizingamot does not like to show weakness. The war gave us proof enough of that."

"But I have to do SOMETHING!" Hermione slammed her hand down on the sofa, an action that was disappointingly unsatisfying, as the plush cushions absorbed the force almost silently.

"Then do something. Just don't do it with Malfoy."

"I knew it!" she shouted, standing and turning on Ginny. The red-heads eyes grew wide, knowing well enough that an angry Hermione Granger was ill for her health.

"You came to try and talk me into marrying Ron!"

Ginny had the decency to look ashamed, but that did not stop her from pleading her case. "Ron never wanted things to end the way they did between you two. He loves you, and he wanted to give you your space. He was certain that given time, you two would find your way back to each other. But now...there's no time for that, Hermione!"

"I DIDN'T ASK FOR SPACE! I wanted to end things, so I did. Why is that so hard for everyone to understand?" Her face flushed with anger as she stepped back, putting more space between herself and the witch in front of her.

"We don't work as a couple. And if everyone would take a sodding moment to think about it, it would be just as obvious to you as it is to me." Her magic swirled around her, causing her hair to spark and frizz, and Ginny visibly shrank into the sofa.

"This law changes nothing between us!" Tears were forming in her eyes as she continued. "I only want what everyone wants. I want to marry for LOVE! I want to marry when I'm damn well ready! This law has taken that away from me. Away from everyone!"

Ginny's face softened slightly as she watched Hermione's restrained anger morph into sadness.

"You all said you would be there for me, no matter what I chose. But that was a LIE!"

"No, Hermione. We - "

"SHUT UP!" Ginny gasped. "You lied! You wanted to be there for me because you all assumed I would refuse Malfoy and accept Ron! You think there's some sort of conspiracy going on? That the Malfoys somehow forced me as Malfoy's match? From where I'm standing, if anyone tampered with the magic, there's a better chance it was a WEASLEY than a MALFOY!"

"HOW DARE YOU!" Ginny rose and moved to stand in front of Hermione, their faces mere inches away, and both witches reached for their wands.

"How dare you accuse us of something like this!"

"It's easier to believe you lot, most of who hold trusted positions in the Ministry, would have the access and ability to interfere in the matching process than a family of former deatheatters."

"Why the bloody hell would any one of us want you to be matched with Malfoy!?"

"I don't know!" The words fell from her lips. "Maybe you thought it was the only way I would marry Ron. You were awfully keen on the law to begin with, Ginny. That's not like you. It's not like ANY of you! Since when do the Weasleys take anything lying down!? But you did! Every one of you!"

Ginny's wand hand was twitching, begging to cast a hex on her childhood friend. Hermione stood tall, refusing to back down. Finally, Ginny stepped back.

"Harry was right. I should never have come here. There's no talking sense into you. You've lost it." She turned her back on her friend, a calculated risk, given the current level of hostility in the room, but Hermione got the message. Ginny wasn't afraid of her, and she was done with this conversation.

"Do whatever you like, Hermione." She made her way over to the floo, grabbing a hand full of powder from its container on the mantle. "You always have."

And with those lost words, she was gone, leaving Hermione very much alone...in more ways than one.