Pinata: Romance (genre)

Unicorn Day: Notter: Theo/Harry

Going, going, gone: colour: pink

Couple Appreciation: trope: marriage law

Word count: 770

my last hours with you (are they worth it?)

Theo presses his lips to Harry's head, holding him close to his chest. "Should we run away?" Harry asks, turning around to face Theo.

He sighs. "I don't think that's a good idea," he replies, keeping his arms around Harry. "They'll find us, and then they'll kill us."

Harry groans. "I know," he says, his voice low and disappointed. "I just don't want to lose you."

It is pretty much guaranteed that they're not going to get each other. This new Law has been put in place so that the wizarding population will replenish, and the new government is so old-fashioned that they believe the best marriage consists of a male and a female. Harry is not a female, and neither is he. They should have married whilst they had the chance.

Theo rests his head on Harry's. "It'll be fine, Harry. What's the worst they can do? We'll still be able to see each other."

"I suppose. I love you, Theo."

"I love you too."

Theo cannot look at Harry as they walk into the Ministry. Many people around their age are also lining up, preparing to have their lives ruined just like them. Theo can't look.

"Theodore Nott," a voice calls, and he walks over to the door with one last glance at Harry.

The office is small. There are two chairs in there, and Theo sits in one of them. He cannot imagine who his new wife will be. They had to take tests and list all relatives. He's certain it won't be Millicent, then, but will it be Harry?

A nervous woman in a dark pink dress walks in. She is definitely not Harry. Her hair is blonde and her skin is white with a tinge of pink. "This is Hannah Abbott," the Ministry Worker says.

Hannah looks about as upset as he feels. "She is your wife now. If you do not achieve conception within the first year the marriage will be terminated and a new marriage will be formed."

Both Theo and Hannah blanch at that. "Grab the Portkey and you will be sent to your new home. Good luck on your marriage!"

Their new home is nice, if not a little empty. Hannah falls onto the floor upon their arrival, the skirt of her pink dress pooling around her feet as she lets out little sobs. Theo crouches down beside her, trying to be strong even though all he wants to do is break down for the loss of Harry. "I know, Hannah," he whispers, resting a hand on her shoulder. "We can get through this, though."

She rests her head on his side, crying into his t-shirt. "You're not Neville," she says, gripping his shirt tight.

"I know," he replies, and they stay like that for a while, mourning the loss of their relationships.

Meet me at midnight.

It has been two months since the Marriage Law became effective. His cousin, Millicent, is pregnant already: one month along. It's hell for her: she is not into men as much as her partner is in to women.

Hannah, however, is not. He gave her a break when they first got married, but after that they've tried every other day. Neither of them are happy. They each want someone else.

Theo leaves Hannah a note as he sneaks out to meet the person who wrote to him. She would understand why he hasn't told her in person. At least, he hopes she will.

Harry is waiting outside his house. When Theo sees him, his pace quickens, and he is soon in Harry's arms. "Run away with me," Harry whispers in his ear.

This time, Theo agrees.

They can access Wizarding British news in Muggle Australia. They are being looked for. Pansy, Harry's new wife, is successfully diffusing the attention, though, as she cries on the radio about having to raise a child on her own and all of that which Theo knows Pansy can do on her own. Harry and Theo hide as close friends, as they're not sure on how accepting Muggles are.

Hannah is only mentioned once on the radio. They say she killed herself because her husband abandoned her. Theo knows better, and regrets leaving her behind.

The peace doesn't last long. They are found. The people that find them are ruthless, and burn the house down despite the fact that Muggles live there too.

Their story is told for years to come. It is used to show people what will happen if they choose 'fake' love over compatibility. Only a few people make the mistake that Harry and Theo did.

it's okay. not much angst, right?

~butter